Mail workers set for fresh strikes

Postal workers in London will launch a fresh wave of strikes across the Royal Mail over jobs, pay and services

Postal workers in London will launch a fresh wave of strikes in the latest sign of growing unrest across the Royal Mail over jobs, pay and services.

Members of the Communication Workers Union in the capital will walk out on Saturday and again on Monday and Tuesday, with deliveries expected to be hit for several days.

Around 12,000 workers will be involved in the action but the union has warned that its branches across the country were pressing for ballots on strikes.

Martin Walsh, the union's London divisional representative, said Royal Mail had turned down an offer of talks, claiming the company was being controlled by the Government.

"We are up for change but we are not prepared to let management or the Government rubbish a great public service just so they can sell it."

The union said it had made representations to the Government, complaining about comments made by Business Secretary Lord Mandelson accusing the CWU of not wanting to change.

The union claims that Royal Mail is cutting jobs and pay against a national agreement which it said was affecting postal services.

The Royal Mail has accused the union of breaking the agreement, claiming that the CWU was standing in the way of modernisation.