UK strike hits postal services

Some main post offices could be closed on Monday as the Royal Mail is hit by a fresh strike in a row over transferring services to WH Smith stores.

Hundreds of members of the Communication Workers Union took industrial action from 6am to midday in protest at plans to close 85 so-called Crown post offices and move their services to the high street retailer.

Workers at the UK’s 465 Crown Offices staged a similar walkout on Friday as part of the national postal strike, which crippled deliveries.

The union regards the WH Smith move as privatization and has warned that 1,500 jobs will be axed and workers who remain will suffer pay and pensions cuts worth thousands of pounds.

The union said it expected Monday’s strike to lead to Crown post offices being closed or badly disrupted until lunchtime.

The CWU warned there will be further strikes unless the Post Office returned to negotiations with an improved offer on pay and job security.

The postal organization said managers will be drafted in to work in affected offices, while the 13,800 sub post offices are not involved in the dispute and will all be open as normal.