Royal mail strikes may 2023

The Royal Mail strikes in May 2023 refer to a series of industrial actions taken by the Communication Workers Union (CWU) against the Royal Mail, the UK's postal service. The strikes were called in response to a dispute over pay, jobs, and conditions.

Here are some key dates and developments related to the Royal Mail strikes in May 2023:

  1. May 10, 2023: The CWU announced that its members would go on strike for 48 hours starting from May 10, 2023, in a dispute over pay, jobs, and conditions.
  2. May 10-11, 2023: The strike affected Royal Mail's operations, with many post offices and delivery centers closed or operating with reduced staff. The strike also impacted the delivery of mail and parcels.
  3. May 12, 2023: The CWU and Royal Mail held talks to try to resolve the dispute, but no agreement was reached.
  4. May 15, 2023: The CWU announced that its members would go on strike for another 48 hours starting from May 15, 2023.
  5. May 15-16, 2023: The strike continued, with many post offices and delivery centers closed or operating with reduced staff.
  6. May 17, 2023: The CWU and Royal Mail held further talks, but no agreement was reached.
  7. May 18, 2023: The CWU announced that its members would go on strike for a third time, starting from May 18, 2023.
  8. May 18-19, 2023: The strike continued, with many post offices and delivery centers closed or operating with reduced staff.

The Royal Mail strikes in May 2023 were the first national strikes in the UK's postal service in over 20 years. The strikes caused disruptions to mail and parcel delivery, as well as inconvenience to customers and businesses.

The dispute between the CWU and Royal Mail centered on several key issues, including:

  1. Pay: The CWU was seeking a 10% pay rise for its members, while Royal Mail was offering a 2% increase.
  2. Jobs: The CWU was concerned about job losses and the impact of automation on the workforce.
  3. Conditions: The CWU was seeking improvements to working conditions, including reduced workload and better health and safety measures.

The strikes were widely covered in the media, and many politicians and business leaders expressed concerns about the impact on the economy and the public. The dispute was eventually resolved through a new pay deal and a commitment to protect jobs and working conditions.