Postal strike affects deliveries

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8192733.stm

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Further disruption to postal services has been caused as workers continue with industrial action over the modernisation of Royal Mail.

Postal workers belonging to the Communication Workers Union (CWU) in Norfolk and Suffolk are taking part in a 24-hour stoppage.

Up to 500 staff in Suffolk have walked out, hitting deliveries in Bury St Edmunds, Stanton and Ipswich.

In Norfolk, deliveries in King's Lynn and Thetford are affected.

In a statement Royal Mail said: "It beggars belief that the Communication Workers Union would call on members to vote for a national strike which would damage customer confidence and undermine the entire UK postal industry."

It said contingency plans had been put in place to provide as many services as possible in areas affected by strike action.

The strikes follow industrial action in several locations on Friday and Saturday.

The union has announced plans to ballot all its postal worker members for a national strike in September, threatening the worst disruption to mail deliveries for two years.

Mr Scott says Royal Mail and the CWU have very differing views on the business