'Not a laughing matter' | Royal Mail 'pay rise prank' makes a mockery of staff money worries

Royal Mail has apologised after an April Fool’s Day prank suggested employees were being given a pay rise.

Postal workers who are members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) have been locked in dispute with bosses over pay and unagreed changes to terms and conditions, which has so far led to two strikes and ballots being held for further walkouts.

Amid the ongoing dispute, a poster appeared at Royal Mail’s Gloucester North delivery office, stating that the company was “pleased to announce” that an agreement had been reached with the union to instate an 11% pay rise, backdated to April 2022.

A new fleet of delivery vans and 10,000 new employees were also among the promises said to have been made by Royal Mail’s top brass.