Royal Mail directors in crisis talks under threat of new strikes

Royal Mail bosses were locked in crisis talks yesterday as union leaders appeared ready to call for fresh strikes.

The board of the 507-year-old company met in London as chairman Keith Williams and chief executive Simon Thompson attempted to resolve the bitter dispute.

With the postal service losing more than £1million a day, bosses have warned further strikes could see it going into administration.

They said strikes would jeopardize the job security of their posts.

Williams was appointed to the board in 2019 after 18 years at British Airways, where he settled a dispute with cabin crew over pay and conditions.

Threat of strikes: Royal Mail’s board of directors met in London as chairman Keith Williams and chief executive Simon Thompson attempted to resolve the bitter dispute

But he hasn’t worked the same magic at Royal Mail in a long-running dispute with the Communication Workers Union (CWU), which represents some 115,000 postal workers, over wage changes and conditions the company insists on modernizing, and rubbing shoulders with rivals.

Royal Mail was hit by 18 days of strikes last year including the Christmas period.

“After 11 months of discussions, numerous improvements to our offering based on CWU feedback and brokered discussions, we are deeply concerned that we are yet to reach an agreement,” it said.

“We have always known that a significant transformation of our network and work practices is essential to the survival of the business.

“It is unsustainable for the company to lose more than £1million a day. Change must not be delayed any longer.’

Further strikes would “only serve to endanger the job security of our postmen and make our salary offer unaffordable,” it said.

CWU General Secretary Dave Ward blamed the financial crisis on the way Royal Mail handled the dispute, adding his offer was “not good enough”.

It is believed the CWU could call more strikes later today, with the firm expected to respond immediately, possibly by bringing in administrators.