Profits must pay

Unite has called on Royal Mail to recognise the ‘invaluable’ role its members have played in delivering today’s (May 19) five per cent increase in profits.

Unite wants bosses to make an improved pay offer and resolve an ongoing pay dispute.

Nearly 5,000 Royal Mail managers are currently taking industrial action short of a strike. This includes working to rule and a ban on overtime, after 96 per cent of members rejected a ‘paltry’ 1.3 per cent pay offer for the year starting September 2015.

The action, which Unite warns will eventually affect postal deliveries to 27 million homes across the UK, comes as Royal Mail announced group profits had increased by five per cent to ÂŁ742 million.

Union members gave their backing to the campaign of industrial action with 78 per cent voting for action up to and including strike action and 93 per cent for action short of strike action.

Extremely frustrated

Brian Scott, Unite officer for Royal Mail members, said, “Unite members will be extremely frustrated that their hard work to deliver a positive financial result is not being recognised by the company.

“With the UK part of Royal Mail making ÂŁ608 million profit, it’s clear that the company can afford to reward Unite members for their hard work with an improved pay offer,” he added.

“A failure to do so will lead to the overtime ban and work to rule that our members are engaged in hitting deliveries to homes and businesses. A fact which we note is ‘glossed’ over in Royal Mail’s annual report.

“As well as helping to deliver a five per cent increase in the Royal Mail group’s profits, Unite members have made a valuable contribution to quality of service,” Scott pointed out.

“While the target of 93 per cent for first class deliveries was missed by 0.5 per cent, it would have been much worse had it not been for Unite member’s commitment to the public postal service,” he added.

“It’s time for Royal Mail to recognise the invaluable role our members play by negotiating a pay offer which properly reflects their hard work.”