Nationwide postal strikes formally begin

Thursday 22nd October 2009

Nationwide postal strikes have begun today after last-minute talks between Royal Mail and the Communication Workers Union (CWU) collapsed.

Some 42,000 mail centre staff and postal drivers around the country began strike action at 04:00 BST this morning.

Tomorrow around 78,000 delivery and collection staff will follow suit. Union leaders have warned further strike action will also be announced shortly.

Yesterday the CWU accused business secretary Lord Mandelson of working with Royal Mail to "undermine the dispute".

The union's deputy leader Dave Ward said in a press conference on Wednesday every time progress appeared to be being made "external forces" deliberately attempted to undermine any form of agreement.

Union leaders claim the industrial action is in response to current working conditions and plans to modernise Royal Mail.

The government has continued to criticise the strike action, while Conservative leader David Cameron accused Gordon Brown of a lack of "courage and leadership" over the dispute at prime minister's questions on Wednesday.

The prime minister has described the walkouts as "counterproductive". ADNFCR-1783-ID-19421041-ADNFCR

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