Crown Post Office staff staging fresh strike
Staff in hundreds of Crown Post Offices were staging a fresh strike today in a long-running row over closures, pay and jobs.
Members of the Communication Workers Union were walking out for half a day from 12.30pm, the eighth round of industrial action since Easter. Telford Post Office was among those expected to be affected.
The union is campaigning against plans to franchise or close 75 of the Crown offices – the larger branches usually sited in high streets – saying it will hit jobs, and adding that staff have not had a pay rise for more than two years.
CWU deputy general secretary Dave Ward said: "Post Office plans to close offices, cut jobs and reduce services cannot go on unchallenged. It's time that Government stood up for these highly-valued local services which their constituents are signing petitions for in their tens of thousands. We are calling on chief executive Paula Vennells to now lead talks to resolve this.
Our members are taking a strong stand with this latest, eighth round of strike action. Their determination has been unwavering because they know they are right. They are standing up to protect jobs, services and for a fair pay rise. The company is in disarray and clearly out of touch with both its staff and customers."
The union said the strike will affect up to 4,000 staff working in 372 Crown offices.
The Post Office has argued that the Crown offices are losing money, adding that most of the 75 will be moved to other stores under franchising arrangements.
Kevin Gilliland, network and sales director at the Post Office, said: "We are disappointed at the CWU's decision to call further strike action. We must continue with plans to turnaround the Crown network to ensure we keep these branches on high streets and in city centres."
