More than 130,000 workers will strike over two days.

More than 42,000 mail centre staff and drivers will down tools and walk off the job on October 22nd in the first of two nationwide postal strikes.

The following day, around 78,000 delivery and collection staff will follow suit in a row with the Royal Mail concerning pay and jobs, meaning the public will have to use alternative parcel delivery services such as those offered by Parcel2Go.com.

According to the Communication Workers Union, its members have been left with little option but to stage industrial action after the Royal Mail rejected the chance of reaching an amicable agreement.

Richard Adams-Mercer, director of Parcel2Go.com, warned that the strikes will cause the Royal Mail to face the last post, with some of its biggest clients seeking alternative parcel delivery arrangements.

"Royal Mail actions are hampering UK businesses and SMEs won't stand for it, they are already defecting. No longer is Royal Mail considered a reliable service, as reflected in Amazon's latest actions," he stated.

His thoughts are echoed by the prime minister Gordon Brown, who said that the Royal Mail will lose major contracts which it will find difficult to win back later.

Written by Mark Moore


Article Added: 16/10/2009 09:31:59