Postal workers vote narrowly against industrial action on pay

Last month members of the CWU communications union in Royal Mail voted by a small majority against national industrial action over pay.

With 94,429 votes cast, the 1,647 majority represented just 1.7% of the total vote. The union conceded that the result was a disappointment but argued that: "Royal Mail cannot view a less than 2% majority as a mandate for massive job losses across the country."

While Royal Mail claims it is offering a 14.5% increase over 18 months, the CWU argues that this amount is tied to a deal on restructuring which would lead to the loss of thousands of jobs.

In a ballot over London weighting carried out at the same time, the union secured a three-to-one vote in favour of industrial action in support of the union's claim for £4,000-a-year allowance.