![Postbox with notice about strike in 2007](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f2/Postbox_with_notice_about_strike_in_2007.jpg)
The 2007 Royal Mail industrial disputes were a series of industrial disputes between
Royal Mail
, kw, Postya Riel, ga, An Post Ríoga
, logo = Royal Mail.svg
, logo_size = 250px
, type = Public limited company
, traded_as =
, foundation =
, founder = Henry VIII
, location = London, England, UK
, key_people = * Keith Williams ...
and the
Communication Workers Union in the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...
.
Background
The dispute centred on 'modernisation plans' which Royal Mail said were required to remain competitive, however the CWU believed that these might have led to around 40,000 job losses. Additionally there were disputes surrounding flexible working hours, pay rises and
pension
A pension (, from Latin ''pensiō'', "payment") is a fund into which a sum of money is added during an employee's employment years and from which payments are drawn to support the person's retirement from work in the form of periodic payments ...
s.
Royal Mail position
Royal Mail claimed that flexibility is vital to the business, and that it was entirely reasonable for employees normally employed in one capacity to cover other roles as required to cope with variations in the work levels in each area. The company was also adamant that increased automation (and fewer employees) were necessary to bring costs under control. The unions were accused of retaining numerous
Spanish practices
The terms Spanish practices or old Spanish customs are British expressions that refer to irregular or restrictive practices in workers' interests. Typically, these are arrangements that have been negotiated in the past between employers and unions ...
which prevent flexible working.
CWU position
The CWU accused Royal Mail of treating its employees as slaves, and regarded a level of flexibility which would have seen employees doing different jobs on a daily basis as unacceptable.
Government position
The CWU called on the government to "intervene in a positive way". Until early October, the
government
A government is the system or group of people governing an organized community, generally a state.
In the case of its broad associative definition, government normally consists of legislature, executive, and judiciary. Government is a ...
maintained its stance that this was a matter for Royal Mail and the union to sort out. However, in early October
Gordon Brown
James Gordon Brown (born 20 February 1951) is a British former politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party (UK), Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 to 2010. He previously served as Chance ...
called on the CWU to reach an agreement on the terms offered, a move that was condemned by the
TUC.
Public view
Public opinion was divided, with some strongly in support of the Postal Workers, and others supporting Royal Mail and condemning the disruption caused by the strikes.
Strike dates
*29 June 2007 - First strike
*12–13 July 2007 - Second set of strikes
*4–5 October 2007 - Business-wide CWU strike
*8–9 October 2007 - Business-wide CWU strike
*10–11 October 2007 - All CWU union members return to work, however wildcat strikes continue in
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. With a population of in 2019, it is the 10th largest English district by population and its metropolitan area is the fifth largest in the United Kingdom, with a popul ...
and
London
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
.
Key events
*On 7 June 2007 the union's postal members voted by 77.5% in favour of industrial action after a 2.5% pay rise coupled with £350million every year for five years (totaling £1.5 billion) of cuts was offered.
*They took their first one-day strike on Friday 29 June 2007, and the second on 12/13 July.
**The action then progressed to a series of rolling strikes designed to cause as much disruption as possible.
*On 9 August strikes were called off when Royal Mail chairman
Allan Leighton
Allan Leighton (born 12 April 1953) is a British businessman, chairman of The Co-operative Group since February 2015, former CEO of Asda, former chief executive of Pandora, and former non-executive chairman of the Royal Mail. He is also the co ...
and CWU General Secretary Billy Hayes began secret talks.
**These negotiations failed and industrial action began again on 5 October.
**This time two national strikes of 48 hours were called.
**These took place on Friday 5 and Saturday 6 October, and then Monday 8 and Tuesday 9 October.
**In between these dates was a Sunday so no deliveries took place between the Friday and Tuesday, but resumed on Wednesday with a large backlog of undelivered mail.
*On 6 October 2007 a march of over 100 postal workers supported by local groups of
TUC members, a pensioners group against
Post Office
A post office is a public facility and a retailer that provides mail services, such as accepting letters and parcels, providing post office boxes, and selling postage stamps, packaging, and stationery. Post offices may offer additional serv ...
closures and the local branch of the
Socialist Party
Socialist Party is the name of many different political parties around the world. All of these parties claim to uphold some form of socialism, though they may have very different interpretations of what "socialism" means. Statistically, most of th ...
took place in Stoke on Trent, stretching 2 miles from Burslem to
Hanley
Hanley is one of the six towns that, along with Burslem, Longton, Fenton, Tunstall and Stoke-upon-Trent, amalgamated to form the City of Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire, England.
Hanley is the ''de facto'' city centre, having long been the ...
. A rally at the end featured many speakers including local
CWU deputy branch secretary, Mick Pender, and Socialist Party member Andy Bentley.
*On 12 October, Royal Mail challenged the legality of the next phase of the planned action, claiming that the notice of the strike had been improperly issued.
*24 hour strikes were planned for;
**Monday 15 October from 6pm at Mail sorting offices and airports
**Tuesday 16 October from 3am at Deliveries and collection hubs
**Wednesday 17 October from midday for Royal Mail drivers
**Thursday 18 October from midday for Manual data entry centres
**Thursday 18 October from 2pm at Heathrow world distribution centre.
*In late afternoon 12 October, Royal Mail succeeded in obtaining an injunction at London's
High Court banning the scheduled strikes starting on 15 and 16 October. The union responded by issuing a suspension of the strikes. In addition, the planned actions in Airports and Separate Collection Hubs were withdrawn because of the small numbers involved.
*On the evening of 12 October, Royal Mail and the CWU reached an agreement which was discussed by the union executive on 15–16 October and endorsed by 9 votes to 5.
Local issues
*Industrial action took place in
Burslem (
Stoke on Trent
Stoke-on-Trent (often abbreviated to Stoke) is a city and Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area in Staffordshire, England, with an area of . In 2019, the city had an estimated population of 256,375. It is the largest settlement ...
) following the suspension of postal worker, Dave Condliffe, in relation to allegations of aggressive behaviour towards two managers. Wildcat strikes took place earlier in the year with support from the local branch of the
Socialist Party
Socialist Party is the name of many different political parties around the world. All of these parties claim to uphold some form of socialism, though they may have very different interpretations of what "socialism" means. Statistically, most of th ...
.
*On 10 October CWU members in London and Liverpool started an unofficial strike in response to changes in flexible working that meant they would have to start at 6am and finish not before 2.15pm.
It was reported that all of South West London is out, East London, Peterbrough, Walsall and Manchester also were involved in unofficial action.
*On 12 October, staff in Edinburgh and Grangemouth walked out in unofficial action in reaction to Royal Mail's decision to deduct pay for both the previous weeks walkout and that weeks walkout from a single pay packet
Royal Mail response
Royal Mail drafted in managers from non-operational roles to attempt to keep some mail moving through the system, and offered opportunities for those CWU members who wish to work to do so at other offices to avoid conflict with striking colleagues, but the strike still had a major impact on the operation.
See also
*
1971 United Kingdom postal workers strike The 1971 United Kingdom postal workers strike was a strike in the United Kingdom staged by postal workers between January and March 1971.
Details
The strike was Britain's first national postal strike and began after postal workers demanded a pay ri ...
*
1988 United Kingdom postal workers strike The 1988 United Kingdom postal workers strike was a strike in the United Kingdom in August and September 1988. It was the country's first national postal strike for 17 years, and began after postal workers at Royal Mail walked out in protest over b ...
*
2009 Royal Mail industrial disputes
The 2009 Royal Mail industrial disputes is an industrial dispute in the United Kingdom involving Royal Mail and members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU), which began in the summer of 2009. It was the country's first industrial action i ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:2007 Royal Mail Industrial Disputes
Royal Mail Industrial Disputes, 2007
Labour disputes in the United Kingdom
Royal Mail industrial disputes
Postal strikes
Royal Mail labour relations