POSTAL workers began voting today on whether to walk out over “despicable” treatment, in what could become the biggest strike this summer. 

About 115,000 Communication Workers Union (CWU) members have been sent ballots on whether to take industrial action in the coming weeks. 

The union is calling on the Royal Mail Group to negotiate a “no-strings” pay rise for employees. 

It accused management of intending to offer workers a mere 2 per cent increase, which would amount to a “dramatic real-terms wage cut” when soaring inflation is taken into account. 

The CWU said that the vote could lead to the “biggest strike of this summer,” with thousands of workers in several sectors demanding pay rises in line with rocketing inflation. 

A union 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 foodbanks while bosses reward themselves with advance bonuses. It is an unjust, unsustainable way to treat people.”

A Royal Mail spokesperson said that the CWU had rejected a proposal of up to 5.5 per cent, which was “the biggest increase we have offered in years.”