Royal Mail workers will walk out on four days in August and September in a dispute over pay.
Postal workers – already enduring heatwave conditions and divebomb attacks from birds – are being "pushed to the brink" amid the cost-of-living crisis, the Communication Workers Union (CWU) claims.
The union has announced to 115,000 of its members will take strike action on Friday, August 26 and Wednesday, August 31 then over two consecutive days on Thursday and Friday, September 8 and 9.
CWU says it is demanding "dignified, proper pay rise" that covers the current cost of living increases but claims the Royal Mail Group management had responded by imposing a 2% increase.
It believes would lead to a “dramatic reduction” in workers’ living standards amid soaring inflation.
But Royal Mail operations director Ricky McAulay accused the union of failing to engage in "any meaningful discussion" on changes to modernise the company, after more than three months of talks.
He added an increase of up to 5.5% for CWU grade colleagues had been rejected and this offer could only be funded by agreeing on changes to pay for it, as the business "is currently losing £1 million pounds a day".
The Royal Mail has said it will have contingency plans in place during the strikes and will try work hard to minimise disruption.
People can continue to send parcels and letters but are advised to post items early, before the strike dates.
CWU general secretary Dave Ward said: “Nobody takes the decision to strike lightly, but postal workers are being pushed to the brink.
“When Royal Mail bosses are raking in £758 million in profit and shareholders pocketing £400 million, our members won’t accept pleads of poverty from the company."
CWU deputy general secretary Terry Pullinger added: “Our members worked miracles during the pandemic and know full well what they are worth.
“The pay offer is an insult to our members and they are willing to fight for a no strings, real-terms pay rise that they are fully entitled to."
But how much do postal workers actually earn?
How much do postal workers get paid?
The government's National Careers Service says the average salary for a postal worker – someone who collects, sorts and delivers letters and packages – is between £16,000 for starters and £25,000 for more experienced employees.
According to Glassdoor, a Royal Mail postal worker typically earns £23,462 annually, but the job search and reviews site says these salaries can range from £10,814 to £27,801 per year.
Check-a-salary puts the average postperson's pay at £20,889, with jobs ranging from £19,750 and £23,910.
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), postal workers, mail sorters, messengers and couriers earned £27,665 gross in 2021.
Many postie jobs currently available at the Royal Mail are not full time – generally between 20 and 30 hours – and have an hourly rate of £10.85.
An additional £5.83 per hour premium on Sundays and a weekly supplement of £26.61 (pro rata) is also offered for these jobs, as well as an area allowance in some places.
The median annual pay for full-time employees in the UK was £31,285 for the year to April 2021, according to the ONS.
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