Postal workers across the region went on strike today as part of the biggest national industrial action of the summer so far.

115,000 postal workers across the country have gone on strike over a dispute over wages and changes to working conditions with pickets seen in Oswestry and neighbouring sites in Welshpool and Shrewsbury.

Workers we spoke to also cited a change in working conditions, including changes to working hours and a lack of investment since the privatisation of the company in 2015.

Royal Mail claim they have offered 5.5% to CWU members however the Communication Workers Union (CWU) dispute this and say Royal Mail Group have not offered anything and have imposed a 2% rise on workers without the agreement of the union and that separately, that they have offered 1.5% but that is strictly conditional on postal workers agreeing changes which would rip up their terms and conditions.

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This comes as inflation has reached double digits with many economists expecting it to rise even further over this winter.

Royal Mail say they are unable to give a pay rise and claim they are losing £1m a day however the company recorded profits of £758m just a few months ago. The CWU also cited the payment of over £400m to shareholders and in excess of £2m in executive bonuses.

CWU General Secretary Dave Ward said: “There can be no doubt that postal workers are completely united in their determination to secure the dignified, proper pay rise they deserve.

“Postal workers won’t meekly accept their living standards being hammered by greedy business leaders who are completely out of touch with modern Britain.

“They are sick of corporate failure getting rewarded again and again.

“Royal Mail’s leadership have lost the dressing room – and unless they make efforts to get real on discussing a pay rise that postal workers deserve, serious disruption will continue.”

A spokesperson for the Royal Mail said the strike “thrusts Royal Mail into the most uncertain time of its 500-year history”.

“The change we need is the change the public demand of us. They want more and bigger parcels delivered the next day – including Sundays – and more environmentally friendly options. They want this at a competitive price, with great quality of service.

“We cannot cling to outdated working practices, ignoring technological advancements and pretending that Covid has not significantly changed what the public wants from Royal Mail.

“We apologise to our customers, and the public for the inconvenience the CWU’s strike action will cause. We have offered to meet the CWU numerous times in recent weeks, but they declined each invitation, preferring to spend their time on the political agenda of the UK trade union movement.

“We have contingency plans to minimise customer disruption and will work to keep people, businesses and the country connected.”