Telford post office staff set to walk out in national dispute
Workers at the post office in Telford Shopping Centre were set to go on strike this afternoon as part of a national protest over jobs, closures and pay.
The protest was due to take place from 2.30pm and members of the Communications Workers Union in the Crown Office in Telford Shopping Centre were walking out.
The CWU is campaigning against plans to close or franchise more than 70 Crown Offices, the larger branches usually sited in high streets, and says staff have not had a pay rise for two years.
Hundreds of jobs would be affected by the Post Office's plans, which would also hit town centres already struggling to attract businesses , the union said.
Reduced
Under Post Office plans the Telford branch would become part of a franchise.
A Post Office spokesman confirmed strike action could lead to the closure of the Telford post office today.
She said: "It might be affected; the action is starting at 2.30pm. Hopefully customers will be directed to a nearby branch if it is closed."
CWU members in more than 370 so-called Crown Offices are due to walk out this afternoon, following a stoppage on Easter Saturday.
The union said it expected the action to close offices or lead to drastically reduced services and opening times.
The Crown Offices handle around a fifth of Post Office business and 40 per cent of financial services sales, said the union.
