Postal strikes expected to go ahead
Postal strikes expected to go ahead
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By Matt Hallam. |  |
Wednesday, 28, Oct 2009 06:09
By Richard James.
Nationwide postal strikes are set to go ahead as planned tomorrow, the Communications Workers Union (CWU) has said.
Industrial action is set to begin at 04:00 GMT on Thursday in the first of three 24-hour strikes.
The walkouts will see up to 120,000 postal staff leave their stations.
The continuing strike action is in response to the controversial plans to modernise Royal Mail, working conditions and pay.
Royal Mail bosses and union leaders have engaged in talks for the last three days in an attempt to prevent the walkouts.
The strikes will follow two 24-hour stoppages last week which reportedly resulted in a backlog of some 30 million items.
Business secretary Lord Mandelson, who has been accused by the CWU of meddling in the discussions, said an agreement in 2007 to modernise the company as well as pay agreements should be fully implemented.
Gordon Brown has continually deflected criticism by the Conservatives over the strikes, with the prime minister claiming the industrial action was "self-defeating".