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| Post workers start 48-hour strike | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Royal Mail workers have started the first of two 48-hour walkouts in a protest over pay and fears of job cuts. | |
| After last-minute talks between Royal Mail managers and the Communication Workers Union (CWU) failed to reach a deal, the strike started at noon. | |
| A second two-day strike by the CWU's 130,000 members is scheduled to begin at 0300 BST on Monday, 8 October. | A second two-day strike by the CWU's 130,000 members is scheduled to begin at 0300 BST on Monday, 8 October. |
| Companies have been warned that the strikes mean there will be no deliveries until next Thursday. | |
| It is estimated that the two walkouts will cost industry millions of pounds. | |
| 'Vital reforms' | |
| At the centre of the dispute is the CWU's objection to the Royal Mail's 2.5% pay offer and modernisation plans, which it says will put about 40,000 jobs at risk. | At the centre of the dispute is the CWU's objection to the Royal Mail's 2.5% pay offer and modernisation plans, which it says will put about 40,000 jobs at risk. |
| It is hugely disappointing to watch a great British institution tear itself apart Postwatch chairwoman Millie Banerjee | |
| Royal Mail says that, without dramatic reform, it will not be able to survive in a liberalised mail market. | Royal Mail says that, without dramatic reform, it will not be able to survive in a liberalised mail market. |
| It is concerned that the strike will lead to a further loss of business and add to its financial losses. | It is concerned that the strike will lead to a further loss of business and add to its financial losses. |
| "We continue to urge the CWU to work with us to modernise the business and to help secure a successful future for the company and its people in the competitive market in which we now operate," the Royal Mail said on Wednesday morning. | |
| 'Proportionate response' | 'Proportionate response' |
| After Monday's strike, the CWU says it will then stage a programme of rolling strikes each Monday until the dispute is resolved. | After Monday's strike, the CWU says it will then stage a programme of rolling strikes each Monday until the dispute is resolved. |
| Each CWU member has been asked to walk-out from the start of their shift. | |
| The union's deputy general secretary, Dave Ward, said the strikes were "a proportionate response to an employer that is completely out of control". | The union's deputy general secretary, Dave Ward, said the strikes were "a proportionate response to an employer that is completely out of control". |
| "Despite five weeks of negotiations, Royal Mail have failed to take on board the union's message that, in order for the business to succeed, Royal Mail need to invest in their workforce," he added. | "Despite five weeks of negotiations, Royal Mail have failed to take on board the union's message that, in order for the business to succeed, Royal Mail need to invest in their workforce," he added. |
| We would ask our customers to avoid posting mail during the strikes and, if they do so, then to post any mail at Post Office branches Royal Mail | We would ask our customers to avoid posting mail during the strikes and, if they do so, then to post any mail at Post Office branches Royal Mail |
| Royal Mail has decided to start imposing changes on workers' conditions without union agreement from next week. | Royal Mail has decided to start imposing changes on workers' conditions without union agreement from next week. |
| The firm is asking the public not to post letters to stop logjams building up in the system. | The firm is asking the public not to post letters to stop logjams building up in the system. |
| A Royal Mail spokesman said: "We will do all we can to mitigate the impact of the strike action. | A Royal Mail spokesman said: "We will do all we can to mitigate the impact of the strike action. |
| "But we would ask our customers to avoid posting mail during the strikes and, if they do so, then to post any mail at Post Office branches, which will all be open for business as usual." | "But we would ask our customers to avoid posting mail during the strikes and, if they do so, then to post any mail at Post Office branches, which will all be open for business as usual." |
| He added: "Royal Mail has consistently sought a resolution to this dispute and we have been in talks with the CWU since last March. | He added: "Royal Mail has consistently sought a resolution to this dispute and we have been in talks with the CWU since last March. |
| "We apologise to our customers for any inconvenience that CWU strike action causes." | "We apologise to our customers for any inconvenience that CWU strike action causes." |
| Damage | Damage |
| Millie Banerjee, chairwoman of the consumer watchdog Postwatch, said that "effectively these strikes mean that mail posted in the UK today is unlikely to be delivered before Thursday next week". | Millie Banerjee, chairwoman of the consumer watchdog Postwatch, said that "effectively these strikes mean that mail posted in the UK today is unlikely to be delivered before Thursday next week". |
| HAVE YOUR SAY I hope that this is resolved quickly and fairly and that the postal system can return to normal Joram Lee, UK Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY I hope that this is resolved quickly and fairly and that the postal system can return to normal Joram Lee, UK Send us your comments |
| "It is hugely disappointing to watch a great British institution tear itself apart," she said. | "It is hugely disappointing to watch a great British institution tear itself apart," she said. |
| David Frost, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce, told the BBC that the strike could not have come at a worse time for UK firms fearful of a possible global economic slowdown. | David Frost, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce, told the BBC that the strike could not have come at a worse time for UK firms fearful of a possible global economic slowdown. |
| He added that the industrial action would also inevitably damage the postal service. | He added that the industrial action would also inevitably damage the postal service. |
| "This will hasten the demise of the Royal Mail," he said. | "This will hasten the demise of the Royal Mail," he said. |