More than 115,000 Royal Mail workers have walked out today on what is the first of four days of planned industrial action this year.
The country’s postal service form what is being described as the “biggest strike of the summer”.
The Communication Workers Union (CWU) said that the 2% pay rise given to postal workers by management was not good enough, and after a recent ballot for strike action saw members vote by 97.6% on a 77% turnout to take action, over 115,000 Royal Mail are now demanding a “dignified, proper pay rise”.
Strike action will continue on Wednesday 31 August, and Thursday 8 and Friday 9 September.
“Nobody takes the decision to strike lightly, but postal workers are being pushed to the brink,” said Dave Ward – General Secretary at the CWU.
“There can be no doubt that postal workers are completely united in their determination to secure the dignified, proper pay rise they deserve [as] we can’t keep on living in a country where bosses rake in billions in profit while their employees are forced to use food banks.
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“When Royal Mail bosses are raking in £758m in profit and shareholders pocketing £400m, our members won’t accept pleads of poverty from the company. Postal workers won’t meekly accept their living standards being hammered by greedy business leaders who are completely out of touch with modern Britain.
“They are sick of corporate failure getting rewarded again and again.
“The CWU’s message to Royal Mail’s leadership is simple – there will be serious disruption until you get real on pay.”
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Picket lines have been forming across the UK this morning / Credit: The CWU (via Twitter)
During the planned days of strike action, including today, Royal Mail said that it would prioritise the delivery of COVID test kits and medical prescriptions.
It will also focus on delivering as many Special Delivery and Tracked24 parcels as possible.
“We cannot cling to outdated working practices, ignoring technological advancements and pretending that COVID has not significantly changed what the public wants from Royal Mail,” a spokesperson for Royal Mail said.
“While our competitors work seven days a week, delivering until 10pm to meet customer demand, the CWU want to work fewer hours, six days a week, starting and finishing earlier.
Strike action is due to take place on 26 and 31 August and 8 and 9 September 2022. We'll be doing what we can to keep services running, but there will be disruption. Please post your items as early as possible.
“Their plans to transform Royal Mail come with a £1bn price tag, are predicated on a wholly unrealistic revival in letter writing and prevent Royal Mail from growing, and remaining competitive, in a fast-moving industry.
“Our future is as a parcels business and we must adapt old ways of working designed for letters to a world increasingly dominated by parcels, and we must act fast.
“We want to protect well-paid, permanent jobs long-term and retain our place as the industry leader on pay, terms and conditions.
“That is in the best interests of Royal Mail and all its employees.”
Featured Image – Royal Mail
News
Referees admit Manchester City’s derby-winning goal over Manchester United was a VAR ‘error’
Emily Sergeant
Referees have admitted that Manchester City’s winning goal during yesterday’s Manchester derby was a VAR ‘error’.
In case you didn’t tune into the Manchester derby yesterday – which was held at Manchester United’s home ground, Old Trafford – star striker Erling Haaland’s goal handed Manchester City a 1-0 victory – in the end, even after fellow City player Phil Foden was given a straight red card and sent off in the twenty third minute.
Haaland‘s goal was initially deemed offside on the pitch, before VAR overruled the decision.
New City signing Enzo Fernandez was in an offside position as he attempted to play the ball before Haaland scored.
Fernandez appeared to impact the defending of Manchester United‘s Lisandro Martinez by attempting a diving header, despite not touching the ball.
Erling Haaland has put Manchester City ahead in the derby after a VAR check ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/V0DCwryhFy
Following the full-time whistle, United’s manager Michael Carrick said it was ‘worrying’ that the goal was allowed to stand, claiming that there was no ‘grey area’ when it came to determining whether Fernandez had interfered with play.
“It’s worrying if that’s how the game is seen by those who are officiating it,” he commented.
Pundit and former Manchester United star, Gary Neville, also expressed confusion at the decision, declaring on Sky Sports after the game: “I’m going to need the offside law explaining to me, because that has lost me, I have to say. I do think when they look back on this, they will recognise they got it wrong.”
Neville said he thinks that referee Michael Oliver will be ‘nervous’ about the goal yesterday, as will the rest of the officials.
Pro Ref has admitted an 'error of judgement' in awarding Manchester City's winner at Manchester United in their 1-0 victory at Old Trafford.
Erling Haaland's goal was initially disallowed for offside on the pitch before VAR overturned the decision. pic.twitter.com/ZF76Qwz4Ib
And now, less than 24 hours after the match ended, refereeing body Pro Ref has since made what Sky Sports is calling an ‘unusual intervention by confirming that a review of the goal will take place.
A spokesperson for Pro Ref said in a statement: “It was established that Enzo Fernandez did not play the ball and therefore that makes any offside offence subjective, however, on this occasion, the VAR did not recognise the likely impact of his position and should have recommended an on-field review.
“Contact has been made with Manchester United to acknowledge what we deem is an error of judgement.
Charli XCX announces massive Manchester arena gig as part of long-awaited UK and European tour
Emily Sergeant
Charli XCX has finally given UK fans the news they’ve been waiting for.
After the genre-bending popstar announced back in June a series of US gigs this autumn to support and celebrate the release of her eighth studio albumMusic, Fashion, Film – which was met with critical acclaim following its release in late July – fans in her home country were wondering when she would announce UK dates to accompany these.
The 34-year-old been had hinting at a UK and European leg of the Music, Fashion, Film Tour on social media over the past couple of months, but nothing was set in stone as of yet.
Then last night, Charli took to Twitter to announce that she ‘finally’ had some information coming today (11 September), and then followed it up with a teaser video – sending fans into a frenzy.
And now, it has been announced this morning that Charli XCX will be taking to the Co-op Live stage early next year.
Support on the UK and European leg of the Music, Fashion, Film Tour will come from US popstar Audrey Hobert.
Hobert has been having somewhat of a star-making year herself in 2026 following the release of her own critically acclaimed debut album, Who’s The Clown?, last year – with her streams racking up daily and drawing in massive crowds on the festival circuit this summer.
Charli XCX – Music, Fashion, Film Tour UK & EU Dates 2027
13 February – 3Arena, Dublin
15 February – OVO Hydro, Glasgow
17 February – Co-op Live, Manchester
19 February – The O2, London
22 February – Ziggo Dome, Amsterdam
24 February – Accor Arena, Paris
Upon release back in July, Music, Fashion, Film the album received acclaim from music critics, who praised its lyrical honesty and experimental production, as Charli took a sonic journey away from the undeniable mega hit that was her 2024 album BRAT, and into ‘Rock Music’ territory.
Music, Fashion, Film topped the charts in the UK and Australia, as well as in Belgium, Hungary, and New Zealand, while reaching the top 10 in countless other countries – including the US.
Charli XCX will be bringing the Music, Fashion, Film Tour to Manchester‘s Co-op Live on Wednesday 17 February 2027, and tickets will go on sale next week.
Emily Sergeant -
26th August 2022 
