Royal Mail ballot for strike

Royal Mail managers are to be balloted for strikes in a row over job cuts in the first move of its kind since 1979.

Unite has announced today that 8,500 managers based in head offices at the Royal Mail, Parcelforce and the Post Office will vote on whether to launch a campaign of industrial action.

The union said the ballot was being held in protest at plans to cut 1,500 managers' jobs.

Paul Reuter, national officer for Unite, said: "If Royal Mail are allowed to push ahead with forced redundancies it will keep coming back for more, so Unite intends to stop Royal Mail in its tracks. Such a drastic step is not necessary now and Unite will oppose it."

Brian Scott, Unite's assistant national secretary, added: "We refuse to accept that compulsory redundancies are necessary."

The ballot will start at the beginning of November.