Royal Mail managers announce strike dates amid plans to cut over 700 jobs and slash pay

Royal Mail managers have announced strike dates amid plans to cut 700 jobs that will leave the 500-year-old service “close to ruin”.

Eight days of industrial action will take place later this month over the dispute, with union bosses adding pay is to be cut by up to £7,000 under the new plans despite the business being “awash with cash”.

Unite say 2,400 managers will begin a five day work-to-rule period on July 15 which will then be followed by three days of strike action between July 20 and 22.

The union’s general secretary said the action is a result of dividends and profits for “the few at the top” being put ahead of the Royal Mail’s duty as a public service.

Sharon Graham said: “There is not a single aspect of these cuts which is about improving customer service.

“They are being driven entirely by a culture of greed and profiteering which has seized a 500-year-old essential service, driving it close to ruin.

“Our members are determined to force the business to take a different path, and they have the full backing of Unite.”

The Union say Royal Mail paid out £400m to shareholders and recorded a £311m profit last year and have called on the proposed “savage” cuts to be cancelled and jobs restored.

A Royal Mail spokesperson said: “We are disappointed that Unite has notified us of planned industrial action. There are no grounds for industrial action.

“The extended consultation on our recent restructure concluded earlier this year, and the restructuring is complete.

“We committed to protecting pay for all managers who stay with Royal Mail, and the vast majority have seen an increase in their earnings.

“We allowed managers to request voluntary redundancy with a package of up to two years’ salary, which was over-subscribed. We also made several concessions during the process, which Unite declined.

“We have contingency plans in place to minimise disruption for customers in the event of industrial action, and we will work to keep people, businesses and the country connected.”