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Postal workers in 24-hour strike Postal workers in 24-hour strike
(about 4 hours later)
Postal workers are to stage another 24-hour strike on Thursday in a continuing row over pay and jobs. The postal service across the UK is set to be hit by further disruption as Royal Mail staff prepare a second day of strike action starting on Thursday.
The Communication Workers Union said up to 130,000 of its members would walk out from 1900 BST, following an earlier stoppage last month. The Communication Workers Union (CWU) said that up to 130,000 of its members would walk out from 1900 BST. This follows an earlier stoppage last month.
The union has written to Royal Mail chairman Allan Leighton to outline a deal to break the deadlock. The union has written to Royal Mail chairman Allan Leighton to outline a deal which could break the deadlock.
It has rejected a 2.5% pay offer and warned that modernisation plans will lead to the loss of 40,000 jobs. It is in dispute with the Royal Mail over the company's 2.5% pay offer.
Royal Mail argues that changes are essential in order to compete with rival mail firms. Union officials have argued that workers' pay should rise in line with inflation, which Royal Mail says it can't afford.
Union representatives met Royal Mail managers on Wednesday in a bid to begin fresh talks, but a union statement later said the Royal Mail had "simply concentrated on reiterating their previous offer that the workforce has already overwhelmingly rejected". The CWU is also locked in battle with the Royal Mail over its modernisation plans, which they say will lead to the loss of 40,000 jobs.
Royal Mail says that changes are essential in order to compete with rival mail firms.
'Overwhelmingly rejected'
Union representatives met Royal Mail managers on Wednesday in a bid for fresh talks, but a union statement later said the Royal Mail had "simply concentrated on reiterating their previous offer that the workforce has already overwhelmingly rejected".
The Royal Mail said it was "deeply disappointed" that another strike had been called.The Royal Mail said it was "deeply disappointed" that another strike had been called.
A spokesman previously said: "Further strike action will achieve nothing. A spokesman said: "Further strike action will achieve nothing.
"The union is saying nothing new and is simply ignoring the challenge confronting everyone in Royal Mail which is the absolute need to modernise - as all our major rivals have already done."The union is saying nothing new and is simply ignoring the challenge confronting everyone in Royal Mail which is the absolute need to modernise - as all our major rivals have already done.
"Strike action only makes it even tougher for Royal Mail to secure its future and continue to provide great quality of service for its customers.""Strike action only makes it even tougher for Royal Mail to secure its future and continue to provide great quality of service for its customers."