Royal Mail deliveries in Northern Ireland and Britain will be crippled today by the first national walkout by postal workers in over a decade.
Up to 130,000 members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) began action from the start of 3am shifts after rejecting a 2.5 per cent pay offer and warning that the Royal Mail's modernisation plans will lead to 40,000 job losses.
Talks aimed at breaking the deadlock failed on Wednesday evening, leading to warnings that the strike would damage the postal organisation and boost its competitors.
Picket lines will be mounted outside sorting and delivery offices, while managers will be called in to cover for striking workers at Crown Post Offices. As well as the 24-hour strike by delivery and sorting office workers, staff at the 458 Crown Offices will take industrial action until 12 noon.
CWU deputy general secretary Dave Ward said: "What Royal Mail are doing is not modernisation. The truth is, they are intent on cutting services, cutting jobs and cutting pay. We have tried to reach an agreement, but Royal Mail are refusing to negotiate."
Further strikes will be called if the deadlock is not broken, which the union said would have maximum impact on Royal Mail at minimum cost to workers. Mr Ward rejected complaints that strike action would damage Royal Mail and said it was the company's modernisation plan which was hitting postal services.
"The reason Royal Mail is losing work to competitors is that they are running away from competition. The real reason they are losing work is their own mismanagement. They can afford a decent pay rise."
Royal Mail said the strike would only add to the "very difficult competitive challenges" the organisation was already facing".
Agencies