Last-gasp talks fail to avert post strike

A week of crippling mail delivery disruption has begun after postal workers walked out when last-gasp talks failed to avert strikes.

Up to 130,000 members of the Communication Workers Union mounted picket lines outside mail centres at noon as a bitter dispute with the Royal Mail over pay, jobs and pensions escalates.

The two sides met at TUC headquarters in London, but there was little sign of a breakthrough as the postal workers began their action.

A second 48-hour walkout will be held from 3am on October 8.

And the union has warned a series of regular strikes will begin on October 15 and continue weekly until the dispute is resolved.

Firms are warned that the strikes mean there will be no deliveries until next Thursday, and it is estimated that the row will cost industry millions of pounds.

Royal Mail has advised against posting letters during the action.

The Government has refused to become involved in the dispute, making it clear it should be resolved by the union and the management.

A spokesman for the Department for Business said: "The Government has been encouraging and will continue to encourage the parties involved to pursue and find a solution through talks.

"No one will benefit from strike action. Strike action can only damage Royal Mail's business and the postal services market as a whole.

"The dispute is for the Royal Mail management and the unions to resolve."

Postal workers have staged four national strikes and other forms of industrial action since the summer.

It follows the rejection of a 2.5 per cent pay offer and the Royal Mail's modernisation plans, which the union claimed would cost 40,000 jobs.

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