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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Postal workers to stage strikes | Postal workers to stage strikes |
| (5 days later) | |
| Over 25,000 postal workers will stage a series of strikes from Friday to Tuesday over pay and jobs, the Communication Workers Union has said. | Over 25,000 postal workers will stage a series of strikes from Friday to Tuesday over pay and jobs, the Communication Workers Union has said. |
| Services across the UK, including in London, Scotland, the West Country, East Anglia and the Midlands will be affected, the union added. | Services across the UK, including in London, Scotland, the West Country, East Anglia and the Midlands will be affected, the union added. |
| London and Scotland have already witnessed stoppages in recent weeks. | London and Scotland have already witnessed stoppages in recent weeks. |
| Royal Mail said over 90% of staff would keep working and the "vast majority" of services would operate normally. | Royal Mail said over 90% of staff would keep working and the "vast majority" of services would operate normally. |
| 'Panic-driven' | 'Panic-driven' |
| The strikes will be the most widespread walkouts since a national action in 2007. | The strikes will be the most widespread walkouts since a national action in 2007. |
| On Friday drivers based in Birmingham, Coventry, Essex and London will stage a 24-hour strike, and postal workers in Bristol, Somerset and Edinburgh will be among those taking action on Saturday. | On Friday drivers based in Birmingham, Coventry, Essex and London will stage a 24-hour strike, and postal workers in Bristol, Somerset and Edinburgh will be among those taking action on Saturday. |
| Stoppages will spread to Suffolk on Monday, and further areas are due to see disruption later in the week. | Stoppages will spread to Suffolk on Monday, and further areas are due to see disruption later in the week. |
| AFFECTED SITES Friday - Birmingham vehicle operation centre; Burslem; Coventry Parcelforce Hub; Edinburgh mail centre; Essex regional distribution centre; Huntingdon; London; Northampton national distribution centre; Peterborough delivery officeSaturday - Somerset; Bristol delivery offices; Dalkeith; Edinburgh; Peterborough and SkegnessMonday - Ipswich mail centre; King's Lynn; Stanton; Bury St Edmonds and Thetford in SuffolkTuesday - Stoke-on-Trent | AFFECTED SITES Friday - Birmingham vehicle operation centre; Burslem; Coventry Parcelforce Hub; Edinburgh mail centre; Essex regional distribution centre; Huntingdon; London; Northampton national distribution centre; Peterborough delivery officeSaturday - Somerset; Bristol delivery offices; Dalkeith; Edinburgh; Peterborough and SkegnessMonday - Ipswich mail centre; King's Lynn; Stanton; Bury St Edmonds and Thetford in SuffolkTuesday - Stoke-on-Trent |
| CWU deputy general secretary Dave Ward said "panic-driven" cuts were being made to jobs and services without agreement. | CWU deputy general secretary Dave Ward said "panic-driven" cuts were being made to jobs and services without agreement. |
| He added: "Postal workers are sick and tired of an incompetent management running their business into the ground. | He added: "Postal workers are sick and tired of an incompetent management running their business into the ground. |
| "Workers are busier than ever and being treated badly." | "Workers are busier than ever and being treated badly." |
| But a Royal Mail spokesman said the union was failing to acknowledge "clear evidence" of declining mail volumes. | But a Royal Mail spokesman said the union was failing to acknowledge "clear evidence" of declining mail volumes. |
| The spokesman said: "The CWU's real agenda is to block change and modernisation at Royal Mail and to absolutely oppose on the ground our goal of making Royal Mail a strong and innovative leader in the UK and international postal markets". | The spokesman said: "The CWU's real agenda is to block change and modernisation at Royal Mail and to absolutely oppose on the ground our goal of making Royal Mail a strong and innovative leader in the UK and international postal markets". |
| He added: "We condemn the CWU for striking over much-needed modernisation and change which has already been successfully implemented by our people in the majority of offices around the UK and is working well." | He added: "We condemn the CWU for striking over much-needed modernisation and change which has already been successfully implemented by our people in the majority of offices around the UK and is working well." |