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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Postal workers strike over jobs | Postal workers strike over jobs |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Thousands of postal workers in London and Scotland will take part in strike action over the next two days in a row over jobs and services. | Thousands of postal workers in London and Scotland will take part in strike action over the next two days in a row over jobs and services. |
| The Communication Workers Union (CWU) said up to 8,000 members in London were due to walk out on Friday with workers in Scotland due to strike on Saturday. | The Communication Workers Union (CWU) said up to 8,000 members in London were due to walk out on Friday with workers in Scotland due to strike on Saturday. |
| The union has accused Royal Mail of cuts which break a national agreement and threatened modernisation. | The union has accused Royal Mail of cuts which break a national agreement and threatened modernisation. |
| Royal Mail said it had honoured existing modernisation agreements. | Royal Mail said it had honoured existing modernisation agreements. |
| A spokesman urged the union to call off the 24-hour strikes, the first of which was started at 0530 BST. | |
| 'Undermine business' | 'Undermine business' |
| He said: "The Royal Mail urges the CWU to call off its planned action and honour, as we have done, existing modernisation agreements signed by the union leadership in the presence of the TUC in 2007 and which has led to the successful introduction of new ways of working in units across the UK. | He said: "The Royal Mail urges the CWU to call off its planned action and honour, as we have done, existing modernisation agreements signed by the union leadership in the presence of the TUC in 2007 and which has led to the successful introduction of new ways of working in units across the UK. |
| "All the union will achieve by strike action is to hurt customers and undermine our drive to build a successful future for this business and its people." | "All the union will achieve by strike action is to hurt customers and undermine our drive to build a successful future for this business and its people." |
| The company is failing on the big picture. Machinery is not being brought in and deliveries have not been redesigned Dave Ward, CWU | The company is failing on the big picture. Machinery is not being brought in and deliveries have not been redesigned Dave Ward, CWU |
| Deputy general secretary of the CWU Dave Ward said: "We are now seeing cuts but not modernisation in the postal industry and there's only so long before this is going have a major impact on services. | Deputy general secretary of the CWU Dave Ward said: "We are now seeing cuts but not modernisation in the postal industry and there's only so long before this is going have a major impact on services. |
| "The CWU does not and has not blocked change. Once again we are seeing Royal Mail working against the union and failing to engage the workforce. | "The CWU does not and has not blocked change. Once again we are seeing Royal Mail working against the union and failing to engage the workforce. |
| "The company is failing on the big picture. Machinery is not being brought in and deliveries have not been redesigned. | "The company is failing on the big picture. Machinery is not being brought in and deliveries have not been redesigned. |
| "We are offering Royal Mail and the Government a three month no-strike deal if they fulfil the agreement to engage the CWU over modernisation and move to get the company on a sound footing for the future." | "We are offering Royal Mail and the Government a three month no-strike deal if they fulfil the agreement to engage the CWU over modernisation and move to get the company on a sound footing for the future." |
| Royal Mail said the three largest offices in London were not involved in the action so postal services will not be disrupted in many areas of central London. | Royal Mail said the three largest offices in London were not involved in the action so postal services will not be disrupted in many areas of central London. |
| Postal workers are due to walk out in Edinburgh on Friday, and other parts of Scotland are liable to join the strike on Saturday. | Postal workers are due to walk out in Edinburgh on Friday, and other parts of Scotland are liable to join the strike on Saturday. |
| Management volunteers are expected to help deliver post during the strike. | Management volunteers are expected to help deliver post during the strike. |