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Fresh mail strikes get under way Union warns of more post strikes
(about 1 hour later)
The second phase of nationwide postal strikes by the Communication Workers Union (CWU) is now under way. The Communication Workers Union has raised the prospects of "more strike action, for longer periods".
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. 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 are 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.
Royal Mail management and union bosses have been meeting all week at TUC headquarters, but each is blaming the other for the lack of agreement. "I can see the strike action increasing now," CWU general secretary Billy Hayes told the BBC.
'Deadlock' "I don't think we're going to put up with this messing about."
"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.
He added that Wednesday morning's proposal was a chance for the Royal Mail to end the strikes.
How the strike might change Britain Your comments on the strikeHow the strike might change Britain Your comments on the 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." 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 Ward also said he didn't think Royal Mail were being honest about their willingness to negotiate. "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."
"In addition to that, I spoke to Royal Mail and was prepared to go over and meet Royal Mail last night and carry on negotiating," Mr Ward said. "Unfortunately, Royal Mail didn't want to do that." 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 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. Backlog of post
Then on Saturday it will be the turn of 77,000 delivery and collection staff across the UK.
Backlog of mail
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 strikeMark 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.
Mr Ward said in a statement that the last three days had been "the most useful and productive discussions" since the dispute started. 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.
'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 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.
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.
He 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.
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.