Royal Mail to axe up to 6,000 jobs amid strike action

Royal Mail has announced that 6,000 jobs are to be axed by August saying that the ongoing strike action and rising losses at the business are to blame for the incoming redundancies. 

The company said it had begun notifying workers of its plans, which aims to reduce its overall headcount by a total of 10,000. 

The majority of the cuts will be made through redundancy and the rest will be achieved through natural attrition. 

The company added that it expects its yearly losses to hit £350m. 

It said this included “the direct impact of eight days of industrial action” as well as lower volumes of parcels being posted.

Royal Mail’s chief executive Simon Thompson said: “This is a very sad day. I regret that we are announcing these job losses. We will do all we can to avoid compulsory redundancies and support everyone affected.”

The postal company currently employs around 140,000 people – members of the Communication Workers Union began a fresh round of strikes which will include 19 days of industrial action which includes Black Friday and Cyber Monday.