Postal strike to go ahead on Thursday

Last update: Wed Oct 28 2009 18:00:53

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Postal strike to go ahead on Thursday

Wed Oct 28 2009 18:00:53

Postal workers stand on the picket line outside the St Helens Royal Mail delivery office in St Helens last Friday A series of strikes by postal workers will go ahead as planned from 4am on Thursday, the Communication Workers Union (CWU) has said.

Talks on whether the fresh wave of industrial action would take place have lasted until just hours before the strike is due to begin.

The postal executive of the CWU was meeting to discuss any progress made during earlier talks with the Royal Mail, which were aimed at breaking the deadlock in a row over jobs, pay and modernisation.

The two sides have been neogiating for the past two days, after agreeing to meet under the chairmanship of TUC general secretary Brendan Barber.

Up to 120,000 CWU members staged two 24-hour walkouts last week, which delayed more than 30 million items of mail.

The union has announced that 43,700 staff in mail centres as well as drivers and garage staff will strike on Thursday. On Friday, 400 workers who deal with badly addressed mail in Plymouth, Stockport and Stoke will strike, and 77,000 delivery and collection staff will walk out on Saturday.