Last month the Communication Workers Union (CWU) voted by 97 percent in favour of a nationwide Royal Mail strike. The organisation said the company had failed to comply with a pension deal which was agreed last year. 

The ballot of 100,000 Royal Mail staff is thought to have had a turnout just shy of 76 percent.

If the strike goes ahead, it will be the first national postal strike in a decade.

Bosses at Royal Mail announced they are seeking an injunction to block a planned strike by postal workers.

They have claimed there are “potential irregularities in the ballot” which make the vote unlawful.

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Royal Mail will go up to the High Court on Friday for an interim order against the Communication Workers Union (CWU). 

Will the strike go ahead?

Royal Mail said: “The company is making this High Court application because the integrity and legal soundness of any electoral process is vital.

“This is particularly the case in relation to potential industrial action around the General Election on 12 December 2019. 

“Royal Mail is also making this application because of the damage industrial action would do to the company and its customers in the run-up to Christmas.”

The company said they have evidence workers were influenced on how to vote, such as being instructed to vote ‘yes’, and being encouraged to do so in groups.

Royal Mail added: “The company believes the evidence demonstrates that CWU officials, including co-ordination and direction at a senior level, have planned and orchestrated breaches of their legal obligations.”

However, the Communications Workers Union will be challenging the claims during the high court hearing today.

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The CWU say they “refute” the claims, labelling them a “sinister move”. 

A CWU spokesman told PA: “Royal Mail have made an application to take us to the High Court. 

“They claim there are irregularities with our ballot. We clearly refute this and will be represented. 

“This is nothing but a desperate and sinister move.”

When is Royal Mail strike?

The CWU has not set a date for the strikes at present. 

But there are concerns if the strike goes ahead, it would disrupt postal services in the run-up to Christmas. 

There are also concerns disruption would impact on the December 12 general election, where many people will have chosen to vote by post.

The strike could impact the delivery of postal vote ballots.

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