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| UK-wide postal strike announced | UK-wide postal strike announced |
| (41 minutes later) | |
| More than 12,000 postal workers are to strike on Friday in a row over jobs, pay and services, the Communication Workers Union has announced. | More than 12,000 postal workers are to strike on Friday in a row over jobs, pay and services, the Communication Workers Union has announced. |
| The 24-hour strike will affect cities ranging from Edinburgh to Plymouth. | The 24-hour strike will affect cities ranging from Edinburgh to Plymouth. |
| It follows a series of strikes in cities in recent weeks, with workers in London taking part in a three-day strike earlier this month. | It follows a series of strikes in cities in recent weeks, with workers in London taking part in a three-day strike earlier this month. |
| The union has accused Royal Mail of cutting the pay of employees and reducing services. | |
| Dave Ward, the union's deputy general secretary said: "There are serious and growing problems in the postal sector which urgently need resolving. | Dave Ward, the union's deputy general secretary said: "There are serious and growing problems in the postal sector which urgently need resolving. |
| "We have renewed our offer of a three-month no-strike deal to Royal Mail in return for meaningful talks over modernisation. | "We have renewed our offer of a three-month no-strike deal to Royal Mail in return for meaningful talks over modernisation. |
| "The current cuts, bullying managers and ever-increasing workloads on a shrinking workforce cannot continue. | "The current cuts, bullying managers and ever-increasing workloads on a shrinking workforce cannot continue. |
| "Pressure and stress is at breaking point for postal workers." | "Pressure and stress is at breaking point for postal workers." |
| Workers based in London, Edinburgh, Bristol, Darlington, Stoke-on-Trent, Plymouth, Norfolk and Essex will be taking part in the strike. | |
| Protest letters will be delivered to the Royal Mail's chief executive, Adam Crosier, and Business Secretary Lord Mandelson. | |
| The union said it was receiving an "ever-growing" number of requests for industrial action from postal workers across the country. | |
| It said 400 requests for ballots on strike action have already been made and Mr Ward warned that without progress the dispute would turn into a national strike. | |
| During the London strike, Business Secretary Lord Mandelson criticised the action, saying: "I just wish this 'head in the sand' attitude by the Communication Workers Union would end." | |
| Controversial plans to part-privatise Royal Mail we put on hold by the government in June. | |
| The bill, opposed by many Labour MPs, was due to go before Parliament before the summer break, but Lord Mandelson said it would not happen until "later". |