Post staff return to backlog of letters

Postal workers today began clearing a huge backlog of mail as this week's strikes ended, with further disruption planned in the bitter row over jobs, pay and modernisation.

Two 24-hour walkouts led to 30 million letters being delayed - about 40 per cent of an average daily postbag.

The huge backlog is set to grow next week because of another three days of strikes planned by the Communication Workers' Union from Thursday.

The union said up to 120,000 workers "solidly supported" this week's strikes, attracting support from members of the public and other workers, including nurses who joined picket lines yesterday.

In Shropshire, 700 workers were out on strike, with picket lines in Oakengates and Wellington, Telford.

A Royal Mail spokesman branded the strikes "unnecessary and irresponsible", adding: "We are very grateful to the 20 per cent of our delivery staff who have chosen to come to work today and who are doing everything possible to get all delayed mail delivered to customers as quickly as possible."

The union said it was reiterating its offer of unconditional talks at the concil- iation service Acas to try to break the deadlocked row.

The managing director of Royal Mail, Mark Higson, said: "We are really calling on the CWU to accept the agreement that they looked at last Tuesday night."