The ballots have today (28 June) began landing at the homes of members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU), which represents postal workers, and the result will be known on 19 July.

The union is demanding that Royal Mail Group negotiates with it to secure a “straight, no strings pay increase” for employees.

At the time of writing, management intends to impose a 2% pay rise by executive action.

The CWU said that in an economic climate where inflation has already soared to 11.7% by May, this would mean “a dramatic real-terms wage cut of Royal Mail employees, who were key workers during the height of the pandemic”.

A CWU spokesperson said: “Britain’s postal workers are being forced into accepting a massive pay cut by the same people they have generated incredible profits for.

“Our members are going to food banks while bosses reward themselves with advance bonuses.

“It is an unjust, unsustainable way to treat people.

“We have no doubt that workers will defy this despicable treatment, stand up for themselves and vote to begin the biggest strike of this summer.”

A Royal Mail spokesperson said last week that the group had offered a deal worth up to 5.5% for CWU grade colleagues, which was rejected by the CWU, and said it believed there were no grounds for industrial action.

Separately, Britain’s 114 Crown Post Offices will close on 11 July, with its workers also set to strike over pay.

The CWU served notice to the employer yesterday that the strike action was set to take place after workers facing a pay freeze for last year voted to take action by 97.3%. It will be the third national strike by Post Office workers in 2022.