Post Offices hit by Royal Mail strike

A strike by Royal Mail workers led to the closure of 25 larger post offices across the country today.

The company said most of its network of crown offices opened despite the walkout by members of the Communication Workers Union in a row over transferring services from post offices to WH Smith stores.

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.”

Half the counter staff turned up for work, and together with management volunteers managed to keep open all but 25 of the 458 crown branches, said a spokesman.

Hundreds of union members were on strike until midday in protest at plans to close 85 crown branches and move services to the High Street retailer.

The union regards the move as privatisation and warned 1,500 jobs will be axed and workers who remain will suffer pay and pension cuts worth thousands of pounds.

The union’s national officer, Andy Furey, said: “Members have been left with no alternative but to take strike action as management is steam-rolling ahead with closures of crown post offices across the UK.”

The union warned there will be further industrial action unless the post office returns to negotiations with an improved offer on pay and job security.

The Royal Mail said its crown network, which includes the largest branches in high streets and shopping centres was losing around GBP 70 million a year on its operations, which was unsustainable long-term.

Meanwhile, postal workers were clearing the backlog of mail caused by last Friday’s 24-hour strike in a separate row over pay and jobs.