Managers at Royal Mail managers have voted “overwhelmingly” to strike in a dispute over job cuts and a redeployment programme.
Following a number of significant recent strikes, including the three-day national rail strikes, and the barrister strike, as well as UK doctors threatening strike action if they do not receive a 30% pay rise over the next five years, it has been confirmed that the country’s postal service will be the next organisation to take industrial action.
Members of the Unite union in Great Britain backed the industrial action by 86%, and by 89% in Northern Ireland – with around 2,400 managers at more than 1,000 delivery offices involved in the ongoing dispute.
Strike dates are set to be confirmed later this week.
Unite union says the ballot this week was a response to what are plans to cut 542 frontline delivery managers’ jobs, as well as implement a redeployment programme with worse terms and conditions for employees.
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“It’s no surprise at all that these workers have voted overwhelmingly for industrial action. Make no mistake, @RoyalMail is awash with cash –there’s no need to sack workers,drive down pay or pursue this ill-thought out redeployment programme.” @UniteSharonhttps://t.co/5k1P4oJ5j3
— Unite the union: join a union (@unitetheunion) June 29, 2022
The union’s general secretary, Sharon Graham, said it’s “no surprise at all that these workers have voted overwhelmingly for industrial action”, and that “enough is enough”.
She continued: “Make no mistake, Royal Mail is awash with cash.
“There is no need whatsoever to sack workers, drive down pay or pursue this ill-thought-out redeployment programme.
“These plans are all about boardroom greed and profiteering and nothing whatsoever to do with securing this vital public service – shareholders have been seizing the Royal Mail profits, while our members have been holding the service together.”
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Managers at Royal Mail managers have voted “overwhelmingly” to strike / Credit: Royal Mail
In response to the overwhelming vote for strike action, a Royal Mail spokesperson said: “We are disappointed by the announcement that Unite members have voted in favour of both industrial action and industrial action short of a strike, also known as work to rule.
“Unite have stated they will be informing us in due course in relation to the terms of any industrial action.
“Throughout the ballot process, Unite head office has misled members about additional job losses – this is not true.
“Unite has ignored our request to correct these claims. There are no grounds for industrial action. The extended consultation on these changes concluded earlier this year, and the restructuring is complete.
“We committed to protecting pay for all managers who stay with Royal Mail, and the vast majority will see an increase in their earnings.”
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Royal Mail is awash with cash – but it wants to sack 542 Unite members, workers at the heart of the business.
— Unite the union: join a union (@unitetheunion) June 29, 2022
The spokesperson continued: “We allowed managers to request voluntary redundancy with a package of up to two years’ salary, which was over-subscribed, and we also made several concessions during the process, which Unite declined.”
The Royal Mail also confirmed that it has “contingency plans in place” to keep letters and parcels moving in the event of a strike.
Featured Image – Royal Mail
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Manchester locals appealing for more information over a month after from finding family member’s body
Danny Jones
A Greater Manchester family are still calling for more information now over a month on from the discovery of a man’s body at his Chorlton home.
William Riddell, 49, was found dead in the bedroom of a property on Astbury Avenue at approximately 11:35pm on Sunday, 10 November after being found by his stepdaughter, Sarah Hayden.
Details surrounding his passing are still scarce but a 47-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder but has since been released on bail “pending further enquiries”, leaving Sarah and the rest of her family still none the wiser as to the exact nature of his death.
Preparing to spend their first Christmas without him, they have issued a desperate appeal for more information, urging anyone who might have information to come forward.
#APPEAL | The family of a man who died last month are appealing to the public for information as they face their first Christmas without him.
Billy Riddell was sadly found dead at his property in Manchester, with enquiries continuing.
Riddell, more commonly known as Billy by those close to him, was described as a “good, caring man with a big heart” and a popular figure in the local area.
Speaking via Greater Manchester Police, Sarah, said: “I want to be Billy’s voice and get answers for him. Billy was a nice and lovely man and all the community knew who he was. He was well-liked and we gave him a good send-off at his funeral.
“I would just ask anyone who knew him or has any information to come forward and tell police. Even if you think it’s a little or small thing – please come forward. We just want to get to the bottom of what has happened.”
Detective Inspector Alex Wilkinson, who serves on GMP‘s Major Incident Team, added in an official statement: “The family of Billy deserve answers following his death and we are working hard to ensure they get exactly that.
“We have closely supported Sarah and the wider family over the last month, and we will continue to provide assistance wherever we can as they face their first Christmas without him.
“While a suspect has been bailed, we are still working flat-out to understand more about Billy’s life, the people he was close to, and events leading up to his death just over a month ago.”
With that in mind, both GMP and Riddell’s family are asking anyone who might know anything or have information regarding people associated with Billy to come forward, reiterating that “even if you consider something to be small – your help could greatly benefit our investigation.”
You can contact police via 101 or by using the live chat function HERE, quoting log 3227 of 10/11/24.
Alternatively, you can contact the UK’s independent charity, Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online.
Government aims to ‘turn the tide’ on homelessness with £1 billion funding boost
Emily Sergeant
Nearly £1 billion of funding is being pumped into Council budgets to help “break the cycle of spiralling homelessness” in 2025.
As part of the Government‘s wider ‘Plan For Change’, and in a bid to help tackle, reduce, and prevent homelessness next year, it’s been announced that more resources will be be made available for workers on the frontline who provide essential services to get rough sleepers off the street and into secure housing.
This significant investment means Councils will now be “better equipped” to step in early and stop households from becoming homeless in the first place.
According to the Government’s plans, these funded measures will include mediation with landlords or families to prevent evictions, helping homeless people find new homes, and providing deposits to access private renting.
This government is determined to tackle, reduce and prevent homelessness.
— Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Gov (@mhclg) December 18, 2024
The funding will also be used to address the growing use of B&Bs and nightly-let accommodation, and the streamlining of funding structures to make it easier for Councils to spend their cash.
Areas across the UK can also choose to channel resources into services such as Housing First.
Housing First has been massively successful in Greater Manchester, and has helped house hundreds of our region’s rough sleepers since it was first piloted, being described as “life-changing” along the way.
More than £633 million of the funding will be allocated for the Homelessness Prevention Grant – which is a £192 million increase from this year – while £185.6 million will go to the Rough Sleeping Prevention and Recovery Grant, more than £37 million to the Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme, and £5 million will be for the Emergency Accommodation Reduction Pilots.
This new £1 billion funding boost comes after it was announced back in September that Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions will be abolished in England next year as part of the landmark Renters’ Rights Bill.
It will also look to support the Government’s ambition to deliver the biggest increase in social and affordable housing in a generation – with an extra £500 million ploughed into the Affordable Homes Programme to build tens of thousands of affordable homes across the country.
Emily Sergeant -
30th June 2022 
