As postal workers warn of "continuous disruption"
The postal dispute is set to worsen after unions warned "continuous disruption" after the latest talks broke down.
Postal workers began a 48-hour walkout on Monday after 130,000 Communication Workers Union members voted to strike over pay increases, pension benefits and job security. The union rejected Royal Mail's offer of a 6.9% pay increase saying it is conditional on 'unacceptable strings including a reduction in pensions benefits'.
Royal Mail chief Adam Crozier said the union was talking "cobblers in trying to justify the strikes." He said, 'We simply want people to work the hours they are already paid to work across the working week.'
Following a breakdown of the latest talks, the union has warned that a further week of "continuous disruption" to all Royal Mail services would begin next Monday if the dispute was not resolved. These strikes are said to be designed to cause maximum disruption while ensuring workers lose only one day's pay.
The last 48-hour stoppage ended at 3am Wednesday 10th however, disruption is likely to last for weeks as more than 200 million letters and parcels are stuck in the system.
October 10, 2007