Royal
Mail workers have voted in favour of a strike over pay.
Today,
63 per cent of members of the Communication Workers’ Union voted in favour of
industrial action in support of a 5 per cent pay claim.
The
turnout among the 145,000 workers balloted was 65 per cent.
Billy
Hayes, the union’s general secretary, said: "I am pleased that the members
have shown their feelings so clearly."
The
union will decide next week whether to name strike dates, but Mr Hayes says
there will be no action for at least a fortnight.
The
Royal Mail offered a 2 per cent pay increase, with a further 0.5 per cent if
customer quality of service targets were met.
The
union is seeking to increase basic pay to a minimum of £300 a week by October
2003.
