Postal chaos in walk-out
Postal workers across the UK walked out on strike at noon today, crippling mail deliveries until next week in an escalation of a bitter dispute over pay, jobs and pensions.
Postal workers across the UK walked out on strike at noon today, crippling mail deliveries until next week in an escalation of a bitter dispute over pay, jobs and pensions.
Members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) mounted picket lines outside mail centres at the start of a 48-hour walkout, which will be followed by another two-day stoppage from 3am on Monday.
Postal workers in Shrewsbury joined in the strike, but were not due to walk out until the afternoon shift started at 2pm.
Haydn Wills, secretary of the Shropshire and Mid Wales CWU, said feeling was running high among staff - particularly over plans that would slash thousands off many of their pensions.
He added: "I always apologise to the public for the inconvenience. We hope they will support us."
Tony Freakley, a union representative at the Walker Street, Wellington, Royal Mail depot, said he expected a strong response. A picket is planned for Wellington tomorrow morning.
Nationally, the CWU said up to 130,000 members were due to walk out at noon for 48 hours and on Monday.
Dave Ward, union deputy general secretary, said despite several weeks of negotiations, the Royal Mail had not taken on board its message that they need to invest in the workforce.
A Royal Mail spokesman said: "We will do all we can to mitigate the impact of the strike action but we would ask our customers to avoid posting mail during the strikes and if they do so, then to post any mail at Post Office branches, which will all be open for business as usual.
"Royal Mail has consistently sought a resolution to this dispute and we have been in talks with the CWU since last March. We apologise to our customers for any inconvenience."