Workers at the Post Office have voted to strike by a margin of eight to one, the Communication Workers Union (CWU) reports today.
In a ballot of its members the CWU warned the Post Office was “on the path to extinction” and says the government must now step in to avoid industrial action.
The turnout of the ballot was 50.3%, with 83.2% voting for strike action, and 16.8% voting against.
The CWU said that unless senior management engage in talks, people working on Post Office counters, in administration or further down the supply chain could be involved in walkouts by the middle of September.
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The union is calling for government intervenion after a series of announcements this year of cuts to jobs, services, and staff pensions.
“The government separated the Post Office from Royal Mail and declared it would be safe in public hands,” said the CWU’s General Secretary Dave Ward.
“In reality we have seen public funding being withdrawn, falling from £210m in 2013 to £80m this year, and a complete failure from the board to grow its revenues to make up for this. Staff and customers are the ones who are paying the cost.
“Staff in the Post Office face 2,000 job losses this year, the closure of their pension scheme and a strategy of slash and burn from the board of the company.
“We have a very simple demand. The government has to step in, convene a summit of key stakeholders and hammer out with us and the board a strategy that will give the Post Office a future.
“It cannot wash its hands of this and simply stand by as a national institution goes under.”
Ward added: “It can only be hoped that proper negotiations will enable us to make some early progress which will avert the need to activate the ballot result.”
The ballot was called over the future of the Post Office, job security and pensions.
