Post workers stage 24-hour strike

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Workers in mail centres and airports begin industrial action for 24 hours from 7pm on Thursday, followed by action from different groups of employees, including delivery staff, which will continue to hit Royal Mail services.

Members of the Communication Workers' Union (CWU) have been taking action for weeks after rejecting a 2.5% pay offer and warning that the Royal Mail's modernisation plans will lead to the loss of up to 40,000 jobs.

The union claimed the first stage of the modernisation plan would be imposed on a large section of the workforce next week, involving "significant" changes including later delivery start times. These claims have been denied by the Post Office.

CWU deputy general secretary Dave Ward said: "The imposition represents an unnecessary attack on postal workers' jobs, pay and conditions."

Meanwhile, the union stepped up its complaint that the Royal Mail was threatening to withhold payments of £1,000 to workers involved in the transfer of services to WHSmith.

The union said staff in 70 Crown offices had been warned they will not receive the money if they take part in industrial action, ask customers to sign a petition or hand out leaflets criticising the switch to the High Street retailer.

Labour MP Kate Hoey, chairwoman of the all-party parliamentary post office group, said: "I utterly condemn the management for the way they are using blackmail against workers simply trying to ensure their jobs and the service is protected. The Royal Mail talks a lot about modernisation, but this kind of behaviour is going back to the dark days of industrial relations."

A Royal Mail spokesman said: "The Post Office denies strongly any suggestion the £1,000 lump sum payment is an attempt to put pressure on its people in crown branches which are transferring to WHSmith branches.

"The Post Office's priority is to give customers the best possible service right up until the date of transfer and we want to reward our people for doing just that."