Post Office strike could take place during Christmas period

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POST officers workers are due to go on strike during the festive period.

Yesterday the Communication Workers Union (CWU) served formal notice for the strike action to Post Office Ltd.

Strike action is due to take place on Friday, December 12 and will involve workers responsible for the collection, handling and distribution of cash across the post office network.

Talks were held this week regarding the industrial action over pay. The CWU and Post Office Ltd also met to talk about proposed job losses, including the threat of compulsory redundancies.

Talks will continue on Monday but if no agreement is reached by next week then 24 hour strike action will take place on December, 12.

The strike would hit the delivery of cash to the Post Office’s 11,500 branches across the UK, as well as cash deliveries to external companies.

Dave Ward, CWU deputy general secretary, said: “We are continuing talks with Post Office management on Monday at ACAS.

“We hope there will be a real and significant breakthrough in order to avoid strike action next week.

“The onus is on the Post Office to move its position to make this happen.

“Hard-working Post Office employees deserve fair pay and job protection and this is what we are continuing to fight for.

“The Post Office is proposing 28 per cent of job losses from the Admin and Supply Chain staff and this is simply unacceptable.”

Mr Ward said Post Office management was “out of touch” with its staff and customers.

He said: “These threats of compulsory redundancies from Post Office management towards Admin and Supply Chain workers are deplorable and place huge amounts of stress on already vulnerable workers.

“The workforce has made a major contribution to the company's success and have every right to their fair share.”