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| Thousands of workers set to strike in Christmas week | Thousands of workers set to strike in Christmas week |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Thousands of workers will launch a wave of strikes this week, hitting postal services, rail companies and airlines in the run-up to Christmas. | Thousands of workers will launch a wave of strikes this week, hitting postal services, rail companies and airlines in the run-up to Christmas. |
| About 3,000 staff at hundreds of Crown post offices are expected to walk out on Monday, Tuesday and Saturday. | |
| The action marks an escalation of their dispute over pension changes, job security and closures. | |
| Meanwhile the rail strike at Southern continues with conductors beginning two-day action. | |
| Kevin Gilliland, Post Office group network and sales director, said fewer than 300 branches would be affected, with "business as usual in almost all of our network". | Kevin Gilliland, Post Office group network and sales director, said fewer than 300 branches would be affected, with "business as usual in almost all of our network". |
| On Wednesday and Thursday, workers who supply many sub-post offices with cash will join the action. | |
| There are fears the situation could escalate if unofficial action is taken by Royal Mail workers who refuse to cross picket lines. | |
| A Royal Mail spokesman said: "There will be little or no impact on Royal Mail as a result of the CWU strike at the Post Office. Deliveries will carry on as normal and the last posting dates for Christmas remain unchanged." | A Royal Mail spokesman said: "There will be little or no impact on Royal Mail as a result of the CWU strike at the Post Office. Deliveries will carry on as normal and the last posting dates for Christmas remain unchanged." |
| Are we facing a Christmas of Discontent? | Are we facing a Christmas of Discontent? |
| Meanwhile, RMT members at Southern rail will strike on Monday and Tuesday in a dispute over the role of conductors. | |
| Along with a continuing ban on overtime by drivers in Aslef, the action will cause more misery for Southern's 300,000 passengers. | Along with a continuing ban on overtime by drivers in Aslef, the action will cause more misery for Southern's 300,000 passengers. |
| RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: "Our conductor members on Southern are on strike this week in defence of the safety of the travelling public and that remains the focus of the entire union." | RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: "Our conductor members on Southern are on strike this week in defence of the safety of the travelling public and that remains the focus of the entire union." |
| Southern was accused of cancelling trains and blaming industrial action even though drivers were available, for the second consecutive weekend. The company has denied Aslef's claim. | Southern was accused of cancelling trains and blaming industrial action even though drivers were available, for the second consecutive weekend. The company has denied Aslef's claim. |
| British Airways cabin crew belonging to the Unite union are due to strike on Christmas Day and Boxing Day in a row over pay. | British Airways cabin crew belonging to the Unite union are due to strike on Christmas Day and Boxing Day in a row over pay. |
| Talks aimed at averting the strike are due to be held on Monday at the conciliation service Acas. | Talks aimed at averting the strike are due to be held on Monday at the conciliation service Acas. |
| Unite members employed by Swissport as baggage handlers and other ground staff at 18 airports across the UK are set to walk out on Friday and Saturday over pay, although talks will also be held at Acas on Tuesday. | Unite members employed by Swissport as baggage handlers and other ground staff at 18 airports across the UK are set to walk out on Friday and Saturday over pay, although talks will also be held at Acas on Tuesday. |
| Members of the Transport Salaried Staffs Association and RMT on London Underground are continuing with an overtime ban in a dispute over jobs and ticket office closures, while pilots at Virgin Atlantic will start a "work to contract" action from Friday in a row over union recognition. | Members of the Transport Salaried Staffs Association and RMT on London Underground are continuing with an overtime ban in a dispute over jobs and ticket office closures, while pilots at Virgin Atlantic will start a "work to contract" action from Friday in a row over union recognition. |
| Tensions 'boiling over' | |
| Prof Roger Seifurt from the University of Wolverhampton said many of the tensions were longstanding and were "boiling over now because during Christmas they get more media coverage". | |
| He told the BBC's Today programme that discontent among workers was not just affecting these companies, and that worsening pensions, stagnant pay and reduced job security was hitting a range of industries. | |
| "This is now boiling over into strikes which I think will carry on into the new year." | |
| We're entering "a period of quite bitter and prolonged disputes" where unions will take more strike action, he adds. |