Last month CWU members backed industrial action, in a dispute over job security and employment terms and conditions, with 97% in favour of action on a 76% turnout. However, Royal Mail argued that there were irregularities in the ballot and the High Court granted an injunction last week.

Speaking after today’s monthly meeting of Usdaw’s Executive Council, Paddy Lillis - General Secretary says: “We are in absolute solidarity with our brothers and sisters who are rightly angry and bitterly disappointed with the judgment. We share the outrage of CWU General Secretary Dave Ward and agree that Royal Mail’s decision to seek the injunction was ‘a cowardly and vicious attack on its own workforce’.

“Usdaw’s Executive Council has condemned the decision of the High Court to outlaw strike action, despite the ballot being run and confirmed by independent scrutineers. We regard this development as a threat to the entire trade union movement, the right to campaign and the democratic right to strike.

“Usdaw will work with the TUC to oppose this dangerous attack on workers' rights and campaign for a Labour Government who will reverse the Tory trade union legislation, which employers rely on to thwart the democratic will of workers.”

Notes for editors:
 
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fifth biggest and the fastest growing trade union with over 410,000 members. Membership has increased by more than one-third over the last couple of decades. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemicals and other trades.
 
For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion