Major Post Offices are hit by strike

WORKERS at the country’s biggest Post Offices will stage a fresh strike today in a bitter row over jobs, pay and branch closures.

Members of the Communication Workers Union at hundreds of Crown offices will walk out for the day, the fourth round of industrial action in recent weeks.

The union is opposed to plans to franchise 70 of the branches and close some others, saying hundreds of jobs will be affected.

The dispute also involves pay, with the CWU saying its members have not received a wage rise for over two years.

The Post Office say the Crown offices – the larger branches usually sited on high streets – are losing £40 million a year and has accused the union of refusing to accept economic realities.

But Dave Ward, CWU deputy general secretary, said: “This government promised no programme of Post Office closures, but these plans would cut 20 per cent of the Crown network. This is under a minister – Jo Swinson – who campaigned against franchising before getting a government position.”

Picket lines will be mounted outside offices across the UK today, with the union expecting strong support for the walkout.