Crown Post Office branches – strike update

More than 99.8 pct of the Post Office network -around 14,190 branches – was serving customers this morning although strike action led to the closure of 25 Crown branches until 12noon.

A Post Office spokesman said: “The overwhelming majority of branches were serving customers today. We’re very sorry for any inconvenience caused by the CWU strike action which meant we were not able to open a small number of offices but our branches around the country are now open.”

Most of the 14,220-strong network is run as private businesses by subpostmasters or by retailers under franchise agreements but the CWU had called strike action in the 458 Crown branches where the Post Office directly employs the counter staffs who work there.

However, half the counter staff turned up for works this morning and together with management volunteers, just 25 of the 458 Crown branches were not open for business until lunchtime.

The Crown network – which includes the largest branches in high streets and shopping centres – is losing around GBP 70 million a year on its operations, which is unsustainable long-term.

Meanwhile, postmen and women in Royal Mail’s letters business were at work today delivering, collecting, sort and transporting mail.