Royal Mail Managers To Vote On Strike Over Pay

Royal Mail (LSE: RMG.L - news) managers will vote on whether to strike over a new pay deal.

Deliveries to nearly 27 million homes could be disrupted if the walkout by 4,900 managers goes ahead.

They are unhappy about a 1.3% pay rise, which has been described by the Unite trade union as "paltry".

Unite officer Brian Scott said: "Our members are disgusted and upset by the abject failure of Royal Mail to take the issue of pay seriously.

"It (Other OTC: ITGL - news) is adopting a high-handed attitude.

"The company's final pay offer has already been rejected by 95% of Unite members, but the management remains unwilling to sit down and find a way through this difficulty."

Unite said its members also had concerns over cost-cutting at the company.

It said: "Royal Mail has made a commitment to City investors to cut costs by £500m and it is Unite members that are bearing the brunt of that."

Ballot papers were delivered on Monday to managers who are members of Unite. The voting period closes on 21 April.

Royal Mail employs 148,000 people in the UK, so the strike by managers would only affect a small percentage of its workforce.

Sky News has asked Royal Mail to comment.