Public warned not to send mail for a week as postal strike begins

Postal strikes will badly disrupt services for a week

Up to 130,000 postal workers across the country were walking out today for what is effectively six days of strike action.

It means mail posted yesterday and this morning is unlikely to be delivered before Thursday of next week.

Leaders of the Communication Workers Union stepped up their action in a long-running dispute over pay, pensions and working conditions.

The strike was due to begin at noon for 48 hours, until the same time on Saturday.

A second 48-hour walkout will begin at 3am on Monday until the same time next Wednesday.

Then, from the following Monday, 15 October, there will be a rolling programme of strikes every week until the dispute is settled.

Dave Ward, the union's general secretary, described the strikes as a "proportionate response to an employer that is completely out of control".

It threatens to cost London's business tens of millions of pounds a day and cause distress for millions more private individuals as bills will go unpaid and benefits won't be received.

Royal Mail stopped short of sealing letter boxes but appealed to customers not to post during strike days.

Post Office branches, however, will remain open.

A spokesman said the strike would have a "significant impactî on deliveries both during the stoppage and after in clearing the backlog.

He also warned the customer helpline - 08457 950950 - would be very busy and asked people to be patient. Emphasis would be given to protect "vulnerable" people, such as those who depend on the service for pensions and other payments, he added.

Millie Banerjee, chairwoman of Postwatch, the consumer watchdog, said: "It is hugely disappointing to watch a great British institution tear itself apart."

Natalie Evans, head of policy at the British Chamber of Commerce, said: "The strike is helping neither customers, staff,nor the strategic aims of the organisation.

"All it is likely to achieve is the continued demise of Royal Mail."

The company is planning huge changes in how it conducts its business with £350 million in cost cuts.

This will include halving the number of collections from post boxes.

In busy areas, particularly London, collections could be cut from an average of four a day to two - and in some other areas to a single collection.

Many weekend and night shifts could cease, meaning post put in the boxes on Friday will be left there until Monday and will not arrive until the Tuesday.

The CWU, which fears up to 40,000 job losses through planned modernisation, branded the moves a "cost-cutting frenzy".

Union chiefs have accused Royal Mail of conducting a "slash and burn" approach to pay and conditions.

Postal workers have staged four strikes after rejecting a 2.5 per cent pay offer.

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