Royal Mail strike looming for first time in four years

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All workers are to be balloted on a programme of industrial action over pay, ­pension rights and Government plans to privatise the service

A strike at Royal Mail is ­looming for the first time in four years – and could hit deliveries in the run-up to Christmas.

All 130,000 workers are to be balloted on a programme of industrial action over pay, ­pension rights and Government plans to privatise the service.

The proposed walkouts by posties, delivery drivers and sorting office staff would be the first national stoppage at Royal Mail since 2009.

The ballot comes as ministers press ahead with controversial plans to sell off Royal Mail ­despite claims by critics that it will drive up the price of stamps and threaten jobs. The ­Communication Workers Union, which represents staff, will set out a timetable for the strike ballot tomorrow. Details will be announced at a CWU rally at the House of Commons.

Legally, the union has to give Royal Mail bosses seven days’ notice of a strike vote.

A union spokesman said: “We have committed to balloting our members across Royal Mail before the end of September unless we get a deal on pay, job security, and working conditions.

“Talks over the last month have so far been fruitless and with the Government’s ­privatisation agenda looming, it is more urgent than ever that we secure protections for postal workers.”

The ballot is expected to take around a fortnight to complete before strike dates are fixed so the earliest strike action could go ahead would be October.

Royal Mail reported a 61??per cent jump in profits to ­£440million, which critics say proves it is doing well in public hands.

Last month, Royal Mail boss Moya Greene was forced to hand back a £250,000 housing subsidy she received on top of her £1.4million-a-year salary.