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Post Office staff to go on strike at Crown offices Post Office staff to go on strike at Crown offices
(about 13 hours later)
Thousands of staff at Post Office Crown offices will go on strike on Saturday in a row over jobs, pay and closures.Thousands of staff at Post Office Crown offices will go on strike on Saturday in a row over jobs, pay and closures.
Members of the Communication Workers Union will walk out at 370 sites in a dispute over proposals to close or franchise out 70 of the branches.Members of the Communication Workers Union will walk out at 370 sites in a dispute over proposals to close or franchise out 70 of the branches.
The union said the plans would affect hundreds of jobs and be a further blow for already struggling High Streets.The union said the plans would affect hundreds of jobs and be a further blow for already struggling High Streets.
The Post Office said the union was ignoring "harsh realities", with the offices losing £40m a year.The Post Office said the union was ignoring "harsh realities", with the offices losing £40m a year.
Crown offices are Post Office branches directly managed by the company - as opposed to locally-run by sub-post offices - mainly based in major High Streets.
The Communication Workers Union (CWU) claimed that staff had not had a pay rise for two years.The Communication Workers Union (CWU) claimed that staff had not had a pay rise for two years.
CWU general secretary Dave Ward said "The Post Office's plans are short-sighted and would rob the network of the most productive offices while simultaneously putting hundreds of jobs at risk and potentially damaging local economies." 'Transforming network'
CWU general secretary Dave Ward said: "The Post Office's plans are short-sighted and would rob the network of the most productive offices while simultaneously putting hundreds of jobs at risk and potentially damaging local economies."
The union said the Post Office's Crown offices accounted for one-fifth of the business's total workload.The union said the Post Office's Crown offices accounted for one-fifth of the business's total workload.
It also said a meeting at the conciliation service Acas failed to break the deadlock, adding that "our members are steadfast in their conviction that the Crown network is valuable for local communities".
Post Office network and sales director Kevin Gilliland said: "We regret any disruption to services the CWU's call for strike action may cause to customers.Post Office network and sales director Kevin Gilliland said: "We regret any disruption to services the CWU's call for strike action may cause to customers.
"Crown branches are currently losing £40m per year and this is being subsidised by public money. This cannot continue." "Crown branches are currently losing £40m per year and this is being subsidised by public money. This cannot continue.
The union said a meeting at the conciliation service Acas failed to break the deadlock. "We are committed to the Post Office remaining a key part of UK high streets and our plans ensure this will happen."
Crown offices are Post Office branches directly managed by the company - as opposed to locally-run by sub-post offices - mainly based in major High Streets. He went on to say its reforms mean 70 of Crown branches will be looking to "partner with a suitable retailer", while at the same time the Post Office would invest £70 million in the remaining 300 Crown branches to "modernise and grow services to ensure their long-term viability".