RESIDENTS who live in the WA postcode area are being warned of serious disruption to post later this month.

Postal workers employed by Royal Mail are set to strike across the whole of the WA region for the first time in 13 years in a national dispute over pay.

Workers will strike for 24 hours on Friday, August 26, with a further three dates scheduled for August 31, and September 8 and 9.

The move follows an overwhelming vote earlier in July, in which postal workers voted by a margin of more than 97 per cent to take strike action.

This is in pursuance of their union’s pay claim, with the Communication Workers Union stating this is against a backdrop of the company imposing a two per cent increase on the workforce without reaching agreement with the trade union.

The dispute will impact deliveries, distribution and collections across Warrington, St Helens, Runcorn, Widnes, Knutsford, Altrincham and Frodsham.

It will also affect Royal Mail’s north west hub in Warrington.

Dave Kennedy, the union’s branch secretary, said: “The size of this vote and the action we have announced delivers a stark message to Royal Mail.

“Our members are not immune to the current inflation rates, and they can see their pay being eroded at the same time that the company is returning overall profits of £758million, and very generously splurging £400million on shareholder dividends.

“This is totally unsustainable, and it is a gross betrayal of the people it employs and the public they serve.

“The company is also attempting to mislead the public and opinion formers by claiming that it has offered 5.5 per cent on pay.

“The Royal Mail position is disingenuous, and frankly its pants are on fire. Our members know the true figure – they need only look at their pay packet.

“Royal Mail has the opportunity to resolve this dispute, but in the absence of a fair and reasonable offer on pay, these strikes will take place as planned.”

In response to the proposed action, a Royal Mail spokesman commented: “Instead of engaging meaningfully on change that will secure future jobs, the CWU has decided to ballot against change.

“We are losing £1million a day, and we need to change what we are doing to fix the situation and protect jobs.

“This change is also needed to support the pay package we have offered to CWU grade colleagues, worth up to 5.5 per cent.

“This is the biggest increase we have offered for many years and the CWU has rejected it.

“This would add around £230million to Royal Mail’s annual people costs when the business is already loss-making.

“The CWU has put forward ideas for change that would cost over £1billion, while not delivering the changes needed to ensure Royal Mail can grow and remain competitive in a fast-moving industry.

“These actions do not represent a union that supports change. We wanted to meet this week but were disappointed the CWU could not make it – we hope to meet next week.

“The CWU have their heads in the sand and are failing to grasp the seriousness of the situation.

“Royal Mail can have a bright future, but we cannot achieve that by living in the past. Customers want more parcels, bigger parcels, delivered the next day, including Sundays, and more environmentally friendly options.

“By modernising, we can offer more of what our customers want at a price they are willing to pay, all while protecting jobs on the best terms and conditions in the industry.”