Camden Postal staff set for strike vote over job cuts

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POSTAL workers in Camden will ballot for industrial action over plans to axe more than 1,600 jobs across London.

Members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) are expected to strike over a planned “modernisation” of the service that includes slashing costs by sacking staff and forcing many onto part-time contracts.

The union has also criticised Royal Mail management for failing to replace any lost sorting office staff with modern counting machines – meaning more work for fewer people.

Martin Walsh, CWU London divisional representative, said: “These are arbitrary cuts by management. There’s no machinery coming in to help cope with the workload so these job cuts will have a bad impact on services.”

A Royal Mail spokesman said the cuts followed a 10 per cent drop in the amount of mail going through the Post Office.

He said: “As a result of accelerating competition from the internet and email and the recession, it is essential that Royal Mail continues its drive to modernise and increase efficiency.”

Three post offices were closed in Camden last year.