This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/7783542.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Christmas post fears over strike | Christmas post fears over strike |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| There are fears that some Christmas post may not arrive on time if a planned 24-hour strike goes ahead at some sorting offices in England. | There are fears that some Christmas post may not arrive on time if a planned 24-hour strike goes ahead at some sorting offices in England. |
| Workers in Coventry, Crewe, Liverpool, Stockport, Bolton and Oxford are threatening action on Friday over the proposed merger of some depots. | Workers in Coventry, Crewe, Liverpool, Stockport, Bolton and Oxford are threatening action on Friday over the proposed merger of some depots. |
| The Communication Workers Union says 500 jobs could be lost and has challenged Royal Mail to negotiate. | The Communication Workers Union says 500 jobs could be lost and has challenged Royal Mail to negotiate. |
| Royal Mail says the strike would affect just 5% of its workforce. | Royal Mail says the strike would affect just 5% of its workforce. |
| A spokesman said: "We are clearly disappointed that the union would urge strike action at this important and busy time of year. | A spokesman said: "We are clearly disappointed that the union would urge strike action at this important and busy time of year. |
| "We are asking all our people to get on and deliver the Christmas service our customers want and deserve." | "We are asking all our people to get on and deliver the Christmas service our customers want and deserve." |
| The firm's plans include transferring work from the mail centre in Weston, Crewe, and the Copperas Hill sorting office in Liverpool to a new regional centre in Warrington. | |
| The CWU's Mick Kavanagh says postal workers have a lot of support | |
| Royal Mail has said Copperas Hill is no longer viable in the face of falling mail volumes. | Royal Mail has said Copperas Hill is no longer viable in the face of falling mail volumes. |
| It said it wanted staff at both sites to work at the new centre, but union leaders said many workers would not be able to afford to travel or relocate. | It said it wanted staff at both sites to work at the new centre, but union leaders said many workers would not be able to afford to travel or relocate. |
| They warned the planned closures would have a "devastating" impact on local economies. | They warned the planned closures would have a "devastating" impact on local economies. |
| Up to 2,000 workers could walk out after 60% of those who voted came out in favour of industrial action. | Up to 2,000 workers could walk out after 60% of those who voted came out in favour of industrial action. |
| Mick Kavanagh from the union said he hoped the strike could still be avoided. | Mick Kavanagh from the union said he hoped the strike could still be avoided. |
| "It really is down to Royal Mail to get around the negotiating table this week and get this sorted out," he said. | "It really is down to Royal Mail to get around the negotiating table this week and get this sorted out," he said. |
| Saturday is the last first-class posting day before Christmas and the union has promised that workers will do all they can to clear the backlog in time for the holiday. | Saturday is the last first-class posting day before Christmas and the union has promised that workers will do all they can to clear the backlog in time for the holiday. |
| Last week, Coventry MP Jim Cunningham asked the government to step in to try to head off the potential strike by arranging talks between Royal Mail, MPs and unions. | Last week, Coventry MP Jim Cunningham asked the government to step in to try to head off the potential strike by arranging talks between Royal Mail, MPs and unions. |