Staffs. RM strike confirmed

Christmas deliveries of mail are set to be affected after 800 postal workers in 11 delivery offices in Staffordshire went on strike. Today's action is set to continue on Monday, and the backlog of mail caused at this busiest time will affect deliveries up to Christmas.

The strike is over vacant posts which had previously been full-time being downgraded to part-time. The Communication Workers Union says that proper consultation has not been completed, and that Royal Mail are in contravention of a national agreement with them.

Doug Neel, an RM spokesman, said "My understanding is they are looking at further action on 23 December, which is obviously a difficult day, the last delivery prior to the Christmas holidays - which will have a significant impact on our delivery service."