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| Version 12 | Version 13 |
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| Union warns of more post strikes | Union warns of more post strikes |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The Communication Workers Union has raised the prospects of "more strike action, for longer periods". | The Communication Workers Union has raised the prospects of "more strike action, for longer periods". |
| The rhetoric is heating up after Royal Mail and post union bosses, who have been meeting at TUC headquarters this week, failed to reach an agreement. | The rhetoric is heating up after Royal Mail and post union bosses, who have been meeting at TUC headquarters this week, failed to reach an agreement. |
| The second phase of the CWU's nationwide postal strikes is now under way, with close to 44,000 members striking on Thursday. | The second phase of the CWU's nationwide postal strikes is now under way, with close to 44,000 members striking on Thursday. |
| Further 24-hour strikes are due to take place on Friday and Saturday. | Further 24-hour strikes are due to take place on Friday and Saturday. |
| "I can see the strike action increasing now," CWU general secretary Billy Hayes told the BBC. | "I can see the strike action increasing now," CWU general secretary Billy Hayes told the BBC. |
| "I don't think we're going to put up with this messing about." He said this could result in longer strikes. | |
| Secrets to solving disputes Postal temp: 'I just want to work' Q&A: Royal Mail dispute explained When did you last get post? | Secrets to solving disputes Postal temp: 'I just want to work' Q&A: Royal Mail dispute explained When did you last get post? |
| Mr Hayes referred repeatedly to Royal Mail chief executive Adam Crozier, who over the weekend said that people should "shut up" about exaggerating the impact of the strike. | Mr Hayes referred repeatedly to Royal Mail chief executive Adam Crozier, who over the weekend said that people should "shut up" about exaggerating the impact of the strike. |
| "Our people aren't going to shut up, our people are very angry," he said. "I'm very angry at Royal Mail's attitude towards these talks." | "Our people aren't going to shut up, our people are very angry," he said. "I'm very angry at Royal Mail's attitude towards these talks." |
| On Thursday, 43,700 union members in mail centres, delivery units in mail centres, network logistic drivers and garage staff are on a 24-hour strike. | On Thursday, 43,700 union members in mail centres, delivery units in mail centres, network logistic drivers and garage staff are on a 24-hour strike. |
| Backlog of post | Backlog of post |
| Royal Mail said they had been close to agreement on Tuesday evening but that on Wednesday morning the CWU had made fresh demands. | Royal Mail said they had been close to agreement on Tuesday evening but that on Wednesday morning the CWU had made fresh demands. |
| "Early yesterday the CWU came up with a fresh set of demands, and we considered those and we were in fact at the TUC all day," Mark Higson, managing director of Royal Mail Letters, told the BBC. | "Early yesterday the CWU came up with a fresh set of demands, and we considered those and we were in fact at the TUC all day," Mark Higson, managing director of Royal Mail Letters, told the BBC. |
| "But really in an extraordinary action, the CWU then decided to carry on calling the strikes, while those talks were in progress." | "But really in an extraordinary action, the CWU then decided to carry on calling the strikes, while those talks were in progress." |
| Mark Higson, managing director of Royal Mail Letters, is disappointed at the strike | Mark Higson, managing director of Royal Mail Letters, is disappointed at the strike |
| Mr Higson said that his focus would now move to making sure that customers were affected as little as possible by the three days of industrial action. | Mr Higson said that his focus would now move to making sure that customers were affected as little as possible by the three days of industrial action. |
| He said he hoped to have the backlog of mail cleared by early next week. | He said he hoped to have the backlog of mail cleared by early next week. |
| On Friday, 400 workers at three sites in Plymouth, Stockport and Stoke, who assist mail centres by reading and entering mail addresses, are due to strike. | On Friday, 400 workers at three sites in Plymouth, Stockport and Stoke, who assist mail centres by reading and entering mail addresses, are due to strike. |
| Then on Saturday it will be the turn of 77,000 delivery and collection staff across the UK. | Then on Saturday it will be the turn of 77,000 delivery and collection staff across the UK. |
| 'Deadlock' | 'Deadlock' |
| "We're very frustrated and disappointed that we were unable to break the deadlock yesterday," Dave Ward, the CWU deputy general secretary, told the BBC. | "We're very frustrated and disappointed that we were unable to break the deadlock yesterday," Dave Ward, the CWU deputy general secretary, told the BBC. |
| Mandelson 'disappointed' at strike | Mandelson 'disappointed' at strike |
| "We tabled a proposal at ten o'clock yesterday morning and we waited some eight hours for Royal Mail to respond to that proposal." | "We tabled a proposal at ten o'clock yesterday morning and we waited some eight hours for Royal Mail to respond to that proposal." |
| Mr Ward declined to discuss the detail of the proposals. | Mr Ward declined to discuss the detail of the proposals. |
| But he admitted that Royal Mail's hiring 30,000 agency workers to deal with the effects of the strike as well as the Christmas rush was part of the discussions. | But he admitted that Royal Mail's hiring 30,000 agency workers to deal with the effects of the strike as well as the Christmas rush was part of the discussions. |
| "It's not a sticking point, but it is an issue," Mr Ward said. | "It's not a sticking point, but it is an issue," Mr Ward said. |
| Royal Mail has opened three back-up depots in Bristol, Raunds and Dartford, with two more to open soon. | Royal Mail has opened three back-up depots in Bristol, Raunds and Dartford, with two more to open soon. |
| Mr Ward said the last three days had been "the most useful and productive discussions" since the dispute started. | Mr Ward said the last three days had been "the most useful and productive discussions" since the dispute started. |
| Those talks have been chaired by TUC general secretary Brendan Barber. | Those talks have been chaired by TUC general secretary Brendan Barber. |
| The TUC head helped to draw up a deal that ended the last national postal strike two years ago. | The TUC head helped to draw up a deal that ended the last national postal strike two years ago. |
| Union leaders have blamed Business Secretary Lord Mandelson and Royal Mail chiefs for the failure to reach a deal. | Union leaders have blamed Business Secretary Lord Mandelson and Royal Mail chiefs for the failure to reach a deal. |
| "I'm very disappointed that these talks broke down," Lord Mandelson said. | "I'm very disappointed that these talks broke down," Lord Mandelson said. |
| "They seemed, yet again, so close to an agreement." | "They seemed, yet again, so close to an agreement." |
| Royal Mail says that it is trying to modernise, saying that letter volumes were dropping by 10% a year as people switched to other forms of communication such as emails and texts. | Royal Mail says that it is trying to modernise, saying that letter volumes were dropping by 10% a year as people switched to other forms of communication such as emails and texts. |