Postal workers to set dates for strike action.

Byline: ALAN WESTON

A STRIKE by postal workers was looming larger in Merseyside as union chiefs met to discuss when to call out their members.

It followed last week's huge vote in favour of industrial action by members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU).

The postal executive of the CWU is now expected to set dates for nationwide strikes in a bitter row over jobs, pay and services, which will cripple mail deliveries across Merseyside.

Phil Callaghan, who chairs the Merseyside Amalgamated branch of the CWU, said: "We believe we are not being treated properly in the business, and are looking for a bit of credit and recognition for the work we have put in."

DEADLOCK: Options before the leadership include calling all 120,000 Royal Mail workers out on strike, or deciding on a rolling programme of action involving different groups of workers, such as delivery and sorting office staff taking action on different days.

This tactic would maximise disruption to post deliveries while minimising the effect on the pay of workers involved in strikes.

The union is also expected to call for mediation to try to resolve the long-running row following months of talks which have failed to break the deadlock.

Further talks are due to be held later this week, but there is little sign of a breakthrough.

The union insists the Royal Mail is imposing changes onto postal workers, cutting jobs and pay, which officials maintain is leading to a worsening service.

The Royal Mail denies the charges and counters that managers are merely implementing an agreed deal between the two sides to modernise the service, which was drawn up after the last national dispute two years ago.

Merseyside business leaders have called for Royal Mail and postal workers to settle their differences, warning a national strike will have a huge impact on companies trying to recover from the recession.

The government has refused to intervene in the dispute, leading to accusations from the union it has "walked away" from its responsibility to protect the postal service.

will be hit Mark Higson, managing director of Royal Mail, said: "The CWU promised a period of no strikes if there was a period of no change and they have failed to honour that promise, even though we told them two weeks ago we had completed all the planned change for this year under the pay and modernisation agreement they signed. If the union cares about the future of our postal service or our customers, let them prove it now by honouring their commitment to call off their damaging and irresponsible strikes."

CAPTION(S):

DEADLOCK: Postal depots such as Copperas Hill will be hit