Crown Post Office staff to stage strike action

Workers in hundreds of Crown post offices will take fresh strike action today in a long-running row over branch closures, jobs and pay.

Members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) at up to 371 of the offices will walk out for 24 hours -in the seventh round of industrial action since Easter.

The union said growing numbers of members of the public and shop owners were supporting its campaign to stop plans to franchise or close 74 of the Crown offices - the larger branches usually sited in high streets.

Officials have warned that jobs will be lost if the plans go ahead, adding that staff have not had a pay rise for more than two years.