Postal staff strike for third day

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Postal workers in London have begun their final day of three days of industrial action in a row over jobs and pay.

Mail centre staff walked out amid claims of pay cuts and service cutbacks without modernisation.

The Communication Workers Union accuses Royal Mail of being the "biggest block to modernisation" but bosses say the union was "halting" modernisation.

The Business Secretary Lord Mandelson has criticised the strike action.

Delivery staff walked out on Wednesday followed by distribution and logistics staff on Thursday.

Redesign deliveries

On Thursday Lord Mandelson said: "I just wish this 'head in the sand' attitude by the Communication Workers Union would end."

The union has accused Royal Mail of reducing the pay of employees and implementing other cuts which it said was affecting services.

It also wants management to resolve the issue of pension deficit, bring in new machines and redesign deliveries.

But a Royal Mail spokesman said "the union refuses point blank" to discuss how to fully implement modernisation in London.

The union said it planned to hold a national day of action on 17 July which will combine industrial action and demonstrations.