Royal Mail strike 'could delay the post for a week'

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Delays to postal services caused by a 24-hour Royal Mail workers' strike on Friday could last until the end of next week, the Communication Workers Union (CWU) has warned.

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he walkout by more than 12,000 members will start early on Friday morning and affect services in London, Edinburgh, Bristol, Darlington and Plymouth.

The CWU said the strike would cause a "significant" impact leading to a backlog and delays lasting several days, or possibly even longer.

Worst hit will be London, with about 10,000 postal workers striking.

The strike is part of an escalating row over jobs, pay and services.

A CWU spokesman said: "It will cause a significant regional impact. It will take a couple of days to clear the backlog, at the least.

"There are still some delays caused by the strike action earlier in the month."

Dave Ward, the union's deputy general secretary, accused Royal Mail of cutting jobs, freezing pay and hitting services, saying that a latest round of cuts was "arbitrary and illogical."

However, the Royal Mail claimed almost all postal services outside London would continue to operate normally..

Lord Mandelson, the Business Secretary, said: "These strikes will exasperate Royal Mail's customers – the people and businesses who keep the company going. The only purpose they will serve is to accelerate the shift away from post.

"There is a crying need for change and modernisation of this business, and the union must aid this not block it."