PPA members can continue to rely on the Royal Mail Group service to deliver subscription copies as the CWU recognises that since they embarked on this ballot two weeks ago, the growing health crisis is changing the language of priorities for the country.

In recognition of the fact that Royal Mail Group is the only service that connects every address in this country via its universal service, they have made a proposal to the company based on putting the interests of the nation first. 

CWU have called for the Royal Mail Group to step back from the strike and work with the union to enact health and safety provisions and equipment.

Dave Ward, General Secretary and Terry Pullinger, Deputy General Secretary (Postal), CWU, said: "Finally, we want to say thank you to our members for their unbelievable support and loyalty.”

Shane O'Riordain, Managing Director of Regulation, Corporate Affairs and Marketing, Royal Mail, said: "We welcome and appreciate CWU's statement that now is not the time to take industrial action. We contacted CWU last week to work together to protect our people, our country and our company. We are talking to them about how we can do that together. The postal service is a key part of the UK's infrastructure at this time. We are delivering, as usual, to communities across the country. The delivery of parcels and letters is a key way of keeping the country together and helping many people who may not have the option to leave their homes.

"As the coronavirus crisis has developed, we have worked with CWU to formulate and implement the appropriate sick pay and absence policy for our colleagues. We jointly agreed the policy and communicated it to our colleagues last week. Colleagues, including those with less than one year's service, will receive full pay in relation to any coronavirus illness or self-isolation. We have made adjustments to our parcel handling procedures to protect our colleagues and our customers.

"We are ready to discuss CWU's proposals for future strategic business opportunities. Our negotiating team is ready to continue the dialogue to agree a framework to try to find a resolution to the current dispute. We are meeting soon. We want to reach agreement."