Postal strike to hit west Leeds

The strike will affect major post offices nationwide including some in west Leeds such as the crown office in Pudsey.

It will last from Monday, December 19 up until Christmas Eve.

Assistant secretary of the Communication Workers Union Andy Furey said: “All of the blame for this unfortunate turn of events is 100 per cent down to the intransigence of the company, who have launched an unprecedented attack on the jobs, job security and pensions of thousands of hard-working and loyal Post Office workers.

“Our members want the Post Office management to pause its closure and privatisation programme, hold off on its planned pensions changes, and commit to sitting down with us and with the other key stakeholders of this Great British institution and, together, construct a lasting vision.”

CWU general secretary Dave Ward added: “Our members are being forced into fighting to save their jobs and this great institution from terminal decline.

“We didn’t want to be in this position, but unless we stand up now, the Post Office as we know it will cease to exist.

“The people running the Post Office have no serious plan other than further closures and we won’t accept that.”

Kevin Gilliland, Post Office group network and sales director, said: “We want to reassure customers that at least 97 per cent of our 11,600 branches will not be involved.

“Any action will affect fewer than three hundred of our branches, and many of these will be open to maintain services for customers preparing for Christmas.”