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| Last-ditch post strike talks due | Last-ditch post strike talks due |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Last-ditch talks aimed at halting planned strikes by postal workers are due to be held later. | |
| They come after the Communication Workers Union attacked Royal Mail's decision to hire up to 30,000 temporary workers as "a stupid move". | They come after the Communication Workers Union attacked Royal Mail's decision to hire up to 30,000 temporary workers as "a stupid move". |
| Management said the extra workers would cut the impact of "unjustified and irresponsible" industrial action. | Management said the extra workers would cut the impact of "unjustified and irresponsible" industrial action. |
| The CWU has called nationwide 24-hour strikes on Thursday and Friday over pay, conditions and postal reforms. | The CWU has called nationwide 24-hour strikes on Thursday and Friday over pay, conditions and postal reforms. |
| On 22 October, mail centre staff and drivers will strike. The next day it will be delivery and collection staff. | On 22 October, mail centre staff and drivers will strike. The next day it will be delivery and collection staff. |
| EXPECTED STRIKE DISRUPTION 22 October: Limited processing, movement and collection of mail 23 October: Limited delivery and collection of mail Some managerial staff and contract drivers will be brought in to move mail but services will be "very limited" Special Delivery and Royal Mail Tracked items will still be delivered on strike days Post Office branches will be open as usual although collections will be affected Parcelforce will operate as normal as it has its own collection, distribution and delivery network Customers should check the Royal Mail website or call 08457 740 740 for the latest service information Source: Royal Mail | EXPECTED STRIKE DISRUPTION 22 October: Limited processing, movement and collection of mail 23 October: Limited delivery and collection of mail Some managerial staff and contract drivers will be brought in to move mail but services will be "very limited" Special Delivery and Royal Mail Tracked items will still be delivered on strike days Post Office branches will be open as usual although collections will be affected Parcelforce will operate as normal as it has its own collection, distribution and delivery network Customers should check the Royal Mail website or call 08457 740 740 for the latest service information Source: Royal Mail |
| Royal Mail would usually hire only 15,000 temporary Christmas staff. | |
| The extra workers will deal with the backlog caused by the strikes as well as helping with the Christmas rush. | The extra workers will deal with the backlog caused by the strikes as well as helping with the Christmas rush. |
| Employing extra people to do the work of staff who are on strike is illegal under employment law. | Employing extra people to do the work of staff who are on strike is illegal under employment law. |
| Royal Mail said the recruitment drive was not about bringing in workers to do the work of striking staff, but to ensure there were enough staff to clear any backlogs between walkouts, as well as tackle the seasonal increase in mail volume. | Royal Mail said the recruitment drive was not about bringing in workers to do the work of striking staff, but to ensure there were enough staff to clear any backlogs between walkouts, as well as tackle the seasonal increase in mail volume. |
| CWU General Secretary Billy Hayes welcomed Lord Mandelson's suggestion of the use of the conciliation service Acas. | CWU General Secretary Billy Hayes welcomed Lord Mandelson's suggestion of the use of the conciliation service Acas. |
| He stopped short of describing the extra temporary workers as strike-breakers. | He stopped short of describing the extra temporary workers as strike-breakers. |
| He said: "What I'd sooner Royal Mail be doing is negotiating seriously about trying to find a resolution to this dispute." | He said: "What I'd sooner Royal Mail be doing is negotiating seriously about trying to find a resolution to this dispute." |
| But the government has warned the CWU to bear in mind that there are alternatives to the postal system. | But the government has warned the CWU to bear in mind that there are alternatives to the postal system. |
| "Technology is providing new ways of communicating," City minister Lord Myners said. | "Technology is providing new ways of communicating," City minister Lord Myners said. |
| TNT trials | TNT trials |
| Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg told the BBC: "I think the people who are calling for a strike are wrong, which isn't to say they don't have legitimate concerns. But taking the whole country hostage like this is the wrong thing to do." | Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg told the BBC: "I think the people who are calling for a strike are wrong, which isn't to say they don't have legitimate concerns. But taking the whole country hostage like this is the wrong thing to do." |
| Meanwhile, the chief executive of the UK's largest private mail firm has said that he wants to deploy his own postal workers on the streets if the stoppage goes ahead, according to the Guardian. | Meanwhile, the chief executive of the UK's largest private mail firm has said that he wants to deploy his own postal workers on the streets if the stoppage goes ahead, according to the Guardian. |
| The newspaper quotes Nick Wells of TNT Mail UK as saying that it would be a "massive challenge" but his company could do the job. | The newspaper quotes Nick Wells of TNT Mail UK as saying that it would be a "massive challenge" but his company could do the job. |
| It has completed trial runs in Liverpool, Manchester and Glasgow. | It has completed trial runs in Liverpool, Manchester and Glasgow. |
| He added that "the reality is we have the customers, appetite and resources". | He added that "the reality is we have the customers, appetite and resources". |
| Will you be affected in the event of a further Royal Mail strike? Are you a temp hoping to work for Royal Mail? Are you planning alternative means of delivery for your business? Send us your comments using the form below. | Will you be affected in the event of a further Royal Mail strike? Are you a temp hoping to work for Royal Mail? Are you planning alternative means of delivery for your business? Send us your comments using the form below. |
| You can also send us your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here. | You can also send us your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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