Postal workers nationally are launching a series of strikes from today, which will cripple deliveries on the Isle of Wight until next week and cost firms across the country millions of pounds in lost business.

Members of the Communication Workers’ Union have voted to strike in an escalation of the union’s campaign against Royal Mail’s business plan, which it says will result in job and pay cuts.

Across the country, 130,000 postal workers will walk out in a stoppage that will run from noon today to noon on Saturday.

A second 48-hour strike will begin on Monday, October 8th, at 3am, and run until 3am on Wednesday, October 10th.

This will be followed by an unspecified programme of weekly strikes, starting on the 15th October until the dispute is resolved.

The Department for Works and Pensions has issued guidelines for those who are likely to be affected by the strike action.  More Details Click HERE:

The disruption to deliveries will be the worst since the dispute began earlier this year and led to warnings that the Royal Mail will lose customers.

Dave Ward, the union’s deputy general secretary, said:

“Despite five weeks of negotiations, Royal Mail have failed to take on board the union’s message that in order for the business to succeed, Royal Mail need to invest in their workforce.

“Strikes are a proportionate response to an employer that is completely out of control. Rather than running the business, Royal Mail’s actions demonstrate they are intent on destroying it.

“The workforce has had enough of Royal Mail messing them around. We’re not going to tolerate an employer that ignores its workforce, ignores the union and ignores its customers.”

A Royal Mail spokesman said:

“We will do all we can to mitigate the impact of the strike action but we would ask our customers to avoid posting mail during the strikes and if they do so, then to post any mail at Post Office branches, which will all be open for business as usual.

“Royal Mail has consistently sought a resolution to this dispute and we have been in talks with the CWU since last March. We apologise to our customers for any inconvenience that CWU strike action causes.”

Postal workers have staged four national strikes and other forms of industrial action since the summer after rejecting a 2.5% pay offer and the Royal Mail’s modernisation plans, which the union claimed would cost 40,000 jobs.

Island Pulse News on DWP Action Click HERE:

Island Pulse Update @8.15am:

Last-gasp talks between union leaders and the Royal Mail aimed at averting the strike by postal workers are continuing, a spokesman for the postal service said:

“We are still talking to the Communication Workers Union in an attempt to avert two 48-hour strikes planned by the CWU starting midday today and from 3am next Monday.

“Talks are expected to continue this morning.”

Royal Mail has advised customers to avoid posting letters during the strike action.

“We will do all we can to mitigate the impact of the strike action but we would ask our customers to avoid posting mail during the strikes and if they do so, then to post any mail at Post Office branches, which will all be open for business as usual.”

Deliveries will be disrupted until well into next week, the worst effect on customers since the dispute began earlier this year.

Island Pulse.