Simon Thompson, Royal Mail CEO Dave Ward, CWU General Secretary Starting in May 2022, postal workers in the United Kingdom undertook a series of strikes and industrial disputes.[15] In December 2022, CWU members at Post Office began action short of a strike, including working to rule, not taking overtime and conducting a sales boycott.[23] Royal Mail said it would consider splitting its postal business from its more profitable international logistics operations if unions would not accept the restructuring plan, noting that it was losing up to £1 million per day.[24] On 17 August 2022, CWU announced that members at Royal Mail had voted by 98.7% for further strike days over terms and conditions (adding to the separate dispute over pay)[26] on a 72% turnout.[29] CWU action planned for 9 September (as the second half of a 48-hour strike) was cancelled after the death of Elizabeth II "out of respect for her service to the country and her family".[30][31] On 22 September 2022, Royal Mail wrote to the CWU proposing that talks should be taken to Acas, the industrial relations arbitration body, after five months of negotiations and three dispute resolution procedures had not resulted in any agreement.[37] On 31 October 2022, Royal Mail CEO Simon Thompson announced a new 18-month 9% pay deal to postal workers, stating that this was the "best and final offer" that the company could afford.[42] During the Conservative Party leadership election in July 2022, Liz Truss proposed legislation to increase restrictions on strikes in certain industries, including the postal sector.