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Hopes over wildcat post strikers More join wildcat postal walkouts
(about 4 hours later)
Royal Mail says it hopes postal workers who took part in unofficial strike action will return to work shortly. More postal workers have walked out in wildcat protests, triggering further delivery delays.
The action took place in 24 of the UK's 1,400 delivery offices as most postal workers returned to work after an official 48-hour walkout ended. Staff at a further seven sites have joined workers at 24 sites in London, Glasgow and Liverpool in the unofficial protest at a change in working hours.
Unofficial strikes, in places including Glasgow, Liverpool and parts of London, were in protest at changes to hours. The walkouts began on Tuesday as an official strike over a long-running row over pay, pensions and jobs ended.
The government has condemned the strikes, while union leaders say they have not lost control of the situation.
On Wednesday, the Prime Minister told striking workers there was "no justification" for the dispute to continue and urged them to return to work.
However, the TUC has warned that Mr Brown's stance could do more harm than good.
New row
Across the country's 1,400 delivery offices, hundreds of workers are taking part in the wildcat action.
Outside Liverpool's Copperas Hill sorting office in the city centre, about 300 postal workers had gathered.
Mark Walsh, branch secretary of the Communication Workers Union in the area, said that while feelings were "running high" among workers the local union had not lost control of the situation.
"There has been no agreement again. The staff came into work this morning and it was the same scenario as yesterday," he added.
"They came into work and were told that their starting hours had been changed and they would not be paid for some time and they would be expected to stay later at the end of the day."
Mr Walsh added the changes had been imposed on staff without their agreement - triggering the action.
'Action needed'
Meanwhile, 40 Labour MPs have tabled a Commons motion calling for government intervention in the dispute.Meanwhile, 40 Labour MPs have tabled a Commons motion calling for government intervention in the dispute.
Ministers need to pick up the phone and get talking to both the union and management John GroganMP for Selby
It says ministers should take "a more active and interventionist role in trying to ensure a fair, just and negotiated settlement to the current dispute".It says ministers should take "a more active and interventionist role in trying to ensure a fair, just and negotiated settlement to the current dispute".
MP for Selby John Grogan said: "One of our greatest public services is grinding to a halt and business and individuals are being significantly affected. Gregor Gall, professor of industrial relations at Hertfordshire University added there was a "pressing need" for swift Government intervention because of the entrenched position of both sides in the dispute.
"Ministers need to pick up the phone and get talking to both the union and management." He told BBC Radio 4 that while the government should step in it should also take measures to resolve the situation.
But earlier on Wednesday, Prime Minister Gordon Brown urged postal workers to end strikes. Hours dispute
He said there was "no justification" for the strikers - most of whom went back to work on Wednesday at the end of a second 48-hour walkout in a week - to continue with action.
The dispute "should be brought to an end on the terms that have been offered as soon as possible", Mr Brown said.
'Delicate stage'
On Wednesday night, TUC general secretary Brendan Barber, who has been chairing negotiations between the firm and the union, said Mr Brown's comments would not help in finding "a sustainable resolution" to the dispute.
"I am disappointed that the prime minister should intervene in this way, at such a delicate stage in the negotiations," he said.
The union, meanwhile, said in a statement on Wednesday night that it remained committed to achieving an agreement.
"Elements of Royal Mail's proposal remain unacceptable and we hope to resolve these outstanding areas through negotiation.
"CWU believes the time is right for the government to intervene in a positive way to resolve the dispute."
Early shifts
The union said that Wednesday morning's unofficial strike action was caused by "management's imposition of unagreed changes, particularly over later starts, and reflects the frustration felt by postal workers at Royal Mail's executive action".The union said that Wednesday morning's unofficial strike action was caused by "management's imposition of unagreed changes, particularly over later starts, and reflects the frustration felt by postal workers at Royal Mail's executive action".
Some of the returning workers went back to picket lines after complaining that changes to flexible working hours - including the end of the freedom to leave early once staff had finished their round - had been made.Some of the returning workers went back to picket lines after complaining that changes to flexible working hours - including the end of the freedom to leave early once staff had finished their round - had been made.
New Royal Mail rules, which postal workers have not consented to, prevent them starting work before 0600 BST and leaving before 1415 BST.New Royal Mail rules, which postal workers have not consented to, prevent them starting work before 0600 BST and leaving before 1415 BST.
Historically, most postal workers began their shift between 0500 BST and 0530 BST and were free to go when they had finished their round.Historically, most postal workers began their shift between 0500 BST and 0530 BST and were free to go when they had finished their round.