POST OFFICE WORKERS TO STAGE FIVE DAYS OF STRIKES NEXT WEEK

Post Office workers  in United Kingdom are to stage five days of strikes in the run-up to Christmas, the Communications Workers Union has announced, raising the prospect of disruption for people looking to send gifts and cards.

The union said a long-running dispute over jobs, pensions and branch closures was behind the walkout, which will include Christmas Eve. The strike, which is due to begin on 19 December, follows industrial action in October and September.

The union sought to place the blame for the strikes on the “intransigence” of the Post Office. But the company said its understanding was that talks were due to resume this week and said it was “extremely disappointed” by the decision to walk out.

Staff representatives and management are in dispute over the closure of a final salary pension scheme, job losses and the franchising of crown post offices, the larger branches that are usually on high streets. The Post Office has previously said most of its network of thousands of branches would not be affected by the industrial action. READ MORE