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Post office staff to stage strike Strike over post office closure
(about 6 hours later)
Post office staff in south west Wales will stage a strike in protest against the closure of a branch in Swansea. Staff at post offices in south-west Wales have staged a two-hour strike in protest against the closure of a branch in Swansea.
CWU union officials expect 93 staff from seven offices will walk out for two hours at 1200 BST. About 20 workers at Swansea's Kingsway post office walked out at 1200 BST to take part in the official action.
There will also be a protest outside WH Smith, which is due to take over the city's Kingsway post office franchise. The staff also protested outside WH Smith, which is due to take over the Kingsway post office franchise.
The Post Office said it was "extremely disappointed" at the action but said managers would keep the offices open. The Post Office said it was "extremely disappointed" at the action. Managers kept offices open during the strike.
The CWU said WH Smith was refusing to take on PO staff on their current terms and conditions. The Communication Workers' Union (CWU) said WH Smith was refusing to take on post office staff on their current terms and conditions.
The Swansea city centre branch in Kingsway is one of six across the UK being closed, with work transferred over to WH Smith.The Swansea city centre branch in Kingsway is one of six across the UK being closed, with work transferred over to WH Smith.
Kingsway staff leafleted shoppers at WH Smith after picketing the post office for an hour.
The running of the branch at Llanelli is also set to be transferred to a private company, but it will remain at its current John Street location.The running of the branch at Llanelli is also set to be transferred to a private company, but it will remain at its current John Street location.
POST OFFICES AFFECTED AberystwythCarmarthenLlanelliMorristonNeathPort TalbotSwanseaPOST OFFICES AFFECTED AberystwythCarmarthenLlanelliMorristonNeathPort TalbotSwansea
Union official Roger Jones said the Post Office's treatment of staff was "unacceptable".Union official Roger Jones said the Post Office's treatment of staff was "unacceptable".
He said: "It is our aim to keep the public on our side and make this protest without harming them. He said: "This strike is not the end of the battle. Our members want to keep their jobs with the Post Office or at least wish to retain their position as counter clerks."
"This strike is not the end of the battle. Our members want to keep their jobs with the Post Office or at least wish to retain their position as counter clerks."
CWU assistant secretary Andy Furey said: "We are hopeful that WH Smith will revise its position in the face of such anger from staff and public alike."CWU assistant secretary Andy Furey said: "We are hopeful that WH Smith will revise its position in the face of such anger from staff and public alike."
'Wholly committed''Wholly committed'
The proposals have been out to consultation since they were announced in June.The proposals have been out to consultation since they were announced in June.
Volunteer managers will keep all seven main branches open, said the Post Office. The Post Office said 200 sub post offices in the area were completely unaffected.
It said 200 sub post offices in the area were completely unaffected. A spokesman added: "We are extremely disappointed that the CWU is taking this strike action.
A Post Office spokesman added: "We are extremely disappointed that the CWU is taking this strike action.
"The proposed partnership between WH Smith and the Post Office presents an opportunity for the Post Office to continue operating in the city and to provide the community with the services it values."The proposed partnership between WH Smith and the Post Office presents an opportunity for the Post Office to continue operating in the city and to provide the community with the services it values.
"Neither party is entering into this partnership lightly and both are fully committed to ensuring the successful delivery of the ongoing Post Office service in Swansea.""Neither party is entering into this partnership lightly and both are fully committed to ensuring the successful delivery of the ongoing Post Office service in Swansea."
He said services would not be removed or downgraded and that WH Smith had shown it was "wholly committed" to providing what Post Office customers "expect and deserve".He said services would not be removed or downgraded and that WH Smith had shown it was "wholly committed" to providing what Post Office customers "expect and deserve".