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Postal strikes enter second day Postal strikes enter second day
(31 minutes later)
The second day of the second wave of postal strikes has begun as the Communication Workers Union (CWU) remains at loggerheads with Royal Mail.The second day of the second wave of postal strikes has begun as the Communication Workers Union (CWU) remains at loggerheads with Royal Mail.
The two parties will resume talks later to try to thrash out a deal over pay and modernisation, following a meeting last night.The two parties will resume talks later to try to thrash out a deal over pay and modernisation, following a meeting last night.
Friday's strike involves 400 workers at three sites in Plymouth, Stockport and Stoke, who assist mail centres.Friday's strike involves 400 workers at three sites in Plymouth, Stockport and Stoke, who assist mail centres.
On Saturday, 77,000 delivery and collection staff are due to strike.On Saturday, 77,000 delivery and collection staff are due to strike.
On Thursday, 44,000 CWU members took part in strike action across the country.On Thursday, 44,000 CWU members took part in strike action across the country.
These strikes follow two 24-hour stoppages last week.These strikes follow two 24-hour stoppages last week.
One striking worker in Plymouth told the BBC: "We may be a very small cog in a very large wheel, but we are aiming for maximum disruption." Although Friday's strike is on a much smaller scale than those held on previous days, one worker on the picket line in Plymouth told the BBC: "We may be a very small cog in a very large wheel, but we are aiming for maximum disruption."
The Plymouth site is England's largest coding centre - which redirects badly-addressed mail.
ModernisationModernisation
The union and Royal Mail failed to come to an agreement during three days of talks earlier in the week, chaired by the TUC, and relations seemed to be deteriorating on Thursday.The union and Royal Mail failed to come to an agreement during three days of talks earlier in the week, chaired by the TUC, and relations seemed to be deteriorating on Thursday.
CWU general secretary Billy Hayes warned that there could be further action beyond the current three-day strikes.CWU general secretary Billy Hayes warned that there could be further action beyond the current three-day strikes.
He said he was "very angry" about Royal Mail's attitude to the talks.He said he was "very angry" about Royal Mail's attitude to the talks.
His union is also annoyed by Royal Mail's decision to hire 30,000 temporary workers to help clear the backlog of mail that has built up as a result of the strikes.His union is also annoyed by Royal Mail's decision to hire 30,000 temporary workers to help clear the backlog of mail that has built up as a result of the strikes.
But Royal Mail said that, with the help of these workers, the backlog of mail should be cleared by early next week.But Royal Mail said that, with the help of these workers, the backlog of mail should be cleared by early next week.
Royal Mail says it is trying to modernise to compensate for letter volumes dropping by 10% every year as people switch to other forms of communication such as emails and texts.Royal Mail says it is trying to modernise to compensate for letter volumes dropping by 10% every year as people switch to other forms of communication such as emails and texts.
It has shed 63,000 frontline postal staff in recent years, and says it needs to cut more jobs as part of continuing modernisation plans.It has shed 63,000 frontline postal staff in recent years, and says it needs to cut more jobs as part of continuing modernisation plans.
The CWU agrees that job cuts are necessary, but disagrees over their extent, and over the future pay and working conditions of the workers that remain.The CWU agrees that job cuts are necessary, but disagrees over their extent, and over the future pay and working conditions of the workers that remain.