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| Post Office workers lead week of strikes | Post Office workers lead week of strikes |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Post Office and rail workers have gone on strike in a week that could also see industrial action disrupting the airline industry. | Post Office and rail workers have gone on strike in a week that could also see industrial action disrupting the airline industry. |
| A strike at Crown post offices has closed about 50 High Street branches. | A strike at Crown post offices has closed about 50 High Street branches. |
| Meanwhile the rail strike at Southern continues with conductors beginning two days of action. | Meanwhile the rail strike at Southern continues with conductors beginning two days of action. |
| Talks aimed at averting a strike by British Airways cabin crew over Christmas have started at the conciliation service Acas. | Talks aimed at averting a strike by British Airways cabin crew over Christmas have started at the conciliation service Acas. |
| Are we facing a Christmas of Discontent? | Are we facing a Christmas of Discontent? |
| There are 300 Crown post offices across the UK, larger branches mostly situated in city centres. The Post Office will be updating its website with details of branches affected by the strike. | There are 300 Crown post offices across the UK, larger branches mostly situated in city centres. The Post Office will be updating its website with details of branches affected by the strike. |
| It says 250 branches have opened, but the union questions those figures and says even if a branch is open, there may be a reduced service. | It says 250 branches have opened, but the union questions those figures and says even if a branch is open, there may be a reduced service. |
| 'Little impact' | 'Little impact' |
| Workers at Crown post offices are protesting against pension changes, job security and closures. | Workers at Crown post offices are protesting against pension changes, job security and closures. |
| On Wednesday and Thursday, delivery drivers who supply many rural offices with cash will join the action. | On Wednesday and Thursday, delivery drivers who supply many rural offices with cash will join the action. |
| There are fears the situation could escalate if unofficial action is taken by Royal Mail workers - who are not currently involved in the dispute - and they refuse to cross picket lines. | There are fears the situation could escalate if unofficial action is taken by Royal Mail workers - who are not currently involved in the dispute - and they 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." |
| Post Office communications officer Mark Davies said that the company was trying to become more efficient and reduce its losses, which would be good news for the taxpayer. | Post Office communications officer Mark Davies said that the company was trying to become more efficient and reduce its losses, which would be good news for the taxpayer. |
| "We have reduced losses from £120m four years ago, to £26m in the last year, and we hope to break even next year. We don't believe that taxpayers should pay out to support the Post Office, " he said. | "We have reduced losses from £120m four years ago, to £26m in the last year, and we hope to break even next year. We don't believe that taxpayers should pay out to support the Post Office, " he said. |
| 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 have got under way at the conciliation service Acas. | |
| British Airways says it has "detailed contingency plans" that will allow it to run a full schedule even if the cabin crew strike does go ahead. | |
| Analysis: John Moylan, Industry correspondent | Analysis: John Moylan, Industry correspondent |
| I can't remember a week like it. | I can't remember a week like it. |
| The Acas conciliatation service, which helps arbitrate disputes, is meeting BA workers on Monday, baggage handlers on Tuesday and they are trying to work with the Post Office behind the scenes too. There's potential for a lot of disruption across the country. | The Acas conciliatation service, which helps arbitrate disputes, is meeting BA workers on Monday, baggage handlers on Tuesday and they are trying to work with the Post Office behind the scenes too. There's potential for a lot of disruption across the country. |
| In the Post Office dispute there's concern that Royal Mail staff may not be prepared to cross picket lines when they go to pick up parcels. | In the Post Office dispute there's concern that Royal Mail staff may not be prepared to cross picket lines when they go to pick up parcels. |
| If that happens, then their managers will have to take action and that could lead to unofficial lightening strikes. I'm told that Liverpool and Glasgow are likely to be the flash points if that does happen - but it all depends how this week plays out. | If that happens, then their managers will have to take action and that could lead to unofficial lightening strikes. I'm told that Liverpool and Glasgow are likely to be the flash points if that does happen - but it all depends how this week plays out. |
| Meanwhile, guards at Southern rail will strike on Monday and Tuesday in a dispute over the role of conductors. | Meanwhile, guards 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." | 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." |
| In addition, 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. | In addition, 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. |
| The pre-Christmas 2016 strikes | The pre-Christmas 2016 strikes |
| Southern rail | Southern rail |
| When? Monday 19 December to Tuesday 20 December | When? Monday 19 December to Tuesday 20 December |
| Why? Unions say the dispute is about safety, but Southern and the government say it is political | Why? Unions say the dispute is about safety, but Southern and the government say it is political |
| Post Office | Post Office |
| When? Crown Post Office workers on Monday 19 December, Tuesday 20 December, and Saturday 24 December. Delivery drivers to rural Post Offices on Thursday 22 December and Friday 23 December. | When? Crown Post Office workers on Monday 19 December, Tuesday 20 December, and Saturday 24 December. Delivery drivers to rural Post Offices on Thursday 22 December and Friday 23 December. |
| Why? Jobs, pensions and branch closures at Crown Post Offices - the larger branches usually located on High Streets | Why? Jobs, pensions and branch closures at Crown Post Offices - the larger branches usually located on High Streets |
| British Airways | British Airways |
| When? 25 December to 26 December | When? 25 December to 26 December |
| Why? Pay for about 4,000 staff who joined after 2010 on "Mixed Fleet" contracts | Why? Pay for about 4,000 staff who joined after 2010 on "Mixed Fleet" contracts |
| UK airport staff | UK airport staff |
| When? Friday 23 December to Saturday 24 December | When? Friday 23 December to Saturday 24 December |
| Why? A longstanding pay dispute - the Unite union says wages have not kept up with inflation | Why? A longstanding pay dispute - the Unite union says wages have not kept up with inflation |
| 'Last resort' | 'Last resort' |
| 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". | 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. | 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. |
| He added that we were entering "a period of quite bitter and prolonged disputes". | He added that we were entering "a period of quite bitter and prolonged disputes". |
| Frances O'Grady, general secretary of the TUC trade union body, pointed out that all the strikes were for different reasons and that the focus should be on the root causes. | Frances O'Grady, general secretary of the TUC trade union body, pointed out that all the strikes were for different reasons and that the focus should be on the root causes. |
| "We are working in a background where workers are still £20 a week worse off on average than before the financial crash, where we're seeing inflation rise and real pay cuts come in. We've had the rise of zero hours and sham self employment. | "We are working in a background where workers are still £20 a week worse off on average than before the financial crash, where we're seeing inflation rise and real pay cuts come in. We've had the rise of zero hours and sham self employment. |
| "Striking is always a last resort. We negotiate and settle thousands of deals." | "Striking is always a last resort. We negotiate and settle thousands of deals." |
| Ms O'Grady added that she feared there might be "another agenda" here to tighten union laws. | Ms O'Grady added that she feared there might be "another agenda" here to tighten union laws. |
| Conservative MP Chris Philp is calling for new laws that would mean in cases involving critical public infrastructure, such as the railways, a High Court judge would decide whether a strike is "reasonable and proportionate". | Conservative MP Chris Philp is calling for new laws that would mean in cases involving critical public infrastructure, such as the railways, a High Court judge would decide whether a strike is "reasonable and proportionate". |
| He wants similar legislation to that in Spain, Italy and Canada, which means that when there is a strike, 50% of the service still runs. | He wants similar legislation to that in Spain, Italy and Canada, which means that when there is a strike, 50% of the service still runs. |
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