POSTAL workers in Clackmannanshire are set to go on strike over four days starting the end of August in a dispute over pay with Royal Mail.

The Communication Workers Union (CWU), which represents Royal Mail Group workers, has served notice to management with four strike days set.

Industrial action could take place on August 26 and 31 and well as September 8 and 9 with the trade union demanding an adequate pay award that covers the current cost of living increases.

Royal Mail bosses said they are ready to "talk further" with the trade union to avert "damaging" industrial action.

Dave Ward, CWU general secretary, explained the decision to strike was not being taken lightly, but "postal workers are being pushed to the brink".

He said: "There can be no doubt that postal workers are completely united in their determination to secure the dignified, proper pay rise they deserve.

"We can't keep on living in a country where bosses rake in billions in profit while their employees are forced to use food banks.

"When Royal Mail bosses are raking in £758million in profit and shareholders pocketing in excess of £400million, our members won't accept pleads of poverty from the company.

"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.

"The CWU's message to Royal Mail's leadership is simple – there will be serious disruption until you get real on pay."

The trade union said the company was imposing a two per cent pay rise on employees, who were given key worker status at the height of the pandemic, through executive action.

However, Ricky McAulay, operations director at the Royal Mail, said: "After more than three months of talks, the CWU have failed to engage in any meaningful discussion on the changes we need to modernise, or to come up with alternative ideas.

"The CWU rejected our offer worth up to 5.5 per cent for CWU grade colleagues, the biggest increase we have offered for many years.

"In a business that is currently losing £1million pounds a day, we can only fund this offer by agreeing the changes that will pay for it."

It is understood an unconditional two per cent pay increase, backdate to April this year, was announced in June while a further 3.5 per cent increase is on the table, subject to agreeing a series of changes.

Mr McAulay, who apologised to customers for the coming disruption, added: "Royal Mail can have a bright future, but we can't achieve that by living in the past.

"By modernising we can offer more of what our customers want at a price they are willing to pay, all whilst protecting jobs on the best terms and conditions in our industry.

"The CWU's failure to engage on the changes we need is an abdication of responsibility for the long-term job security of their members."