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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Mail staff begin three-day strike | Mail staff begin three-day strike |
| (4 days later) | |
| Postal workers have begun three days of strike action in London in a dispute over jobs and pay, amid claims of cutbacks to services. | Postal workers have begun three days of strike action in London in a dispute over jobs and pay, amid claims of cutbacks to services. |
| Delivery staff will strike on Wednesday, distribution workers on 9 July and mail centre staff on 10 July. | Delivery staff will strike on Wednesday, distribution workers on 9 July and mail centre staff on 10 July. |
| The Communication Workers Union (CWU) accused Royal Mail of "sulking" because privatisation plans have been halted. | The Communication Workers Union (CWU) accused Royal Mail of "sulking" because privatisation plans have been halted. |
| But bosses said the union was "halting existing efforts to modernise Royal Mail in London". | But bosses said the union was "halting existing efforts to modernise Royal Mail in London". |
| Dave Ward, the Deputy General Secretary of the CWU, said Royal Mail had not taken up an offer of a three-month moratorium on industrial action in return for discussions on modernisation. | Dave Ward, the Deputy General Secretary of the CWU, said Royal Mail had not taken up an offer of a three-month moratorium on industrial action in return for discussions on modernisation. |
| 'Management sulking' | 'Management sulking' |
| He added: "It's now clear that Royal Mail management is the biggest block to modernisation. | He added: "It's now clear that Royal Mail management is the biggest block to modernisation. |
| "Management seem to be sulking because the prospect of privatisation and increased executive pay has disappeared. | "Management seem to be sulking because the prospect of privatisation and increased executive pay has disappeared. |
| "Strike action in London is in response to Royal Mail's continuing executive action of cuts without modernisation." | "Strike action in London is in response to Royal Mail's continuing executive action of cuts without modernisation." |
| Customers will not understand how the union can claim to support modernisation but then announce strike action to halt existing efforts to modernise Royal Mail in London Royal Mail spokesman | Customers will not understand how the union can claim to support modernisation but then announce strike action to halt existing efforts to modernise Royal Mail in London Royal Mail spokesman |
| But a spokesman for the company said: "Royal Mail wants to discuss how to fully implement the agreement in London, as has already happened in units in the rest of the UK - the union refuses point blank to do so. | But a spokesman for the company said: "Royal Mail wants to discuss how to fully implement the agreement in London, as has already happened in units in the rest of the UK - the union refuses point blank to do so. |
| "Customers will not understand how the union can claim to support modernisation but then announce strike action to halt existing efforts to modernise Royal Mail in London." | "Customers will not understand how the union can claim to support modernisation but then announce strike action to halt existing efforts to modernise Royal Mail in London." |
| The Business Secretary Lord Mandelson announced last week that plans to sell a minority stake in Royal Mail had been put on hold, blaming the recession and a lack of parliamentary time to pass the relevant legislation. | The Business Secretary Lord Mandelson announced last week that plans to sell a minority stake in Royal Mail had been put on hold, blaming the recession and a lack of parliamentary time to pass the relevant legislation. |
| And speaking before the business select committee on Tuesday he accused the union of "boycotting" agreed procedures for implementing changes. | And speaking before the business select committee on Tuesday he accused the union of "boycotting" agreed procedures for implementing changes. |
| Up to 8,000 CWU members in London and about 160 in Scotland held a two-day strike on 19 June as part of the same dispute. | Up to 8,000 CWU members in London and about 160 in Scotland held a two-day strike on 19 June as part of the same dispute. |
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| Postal staff begin strike action | Postal staff begin strike action |