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Pre-Christmas strikes move into second day

A wave of strikes by thousands of workers, hitting the rail, post and airline industries in the run-up to Christmas, are taking place for the second day.

A strike at Crown post offices closed about 50 High Street branches on Monday, while action by Southern Railway staff continues.

A series of disputes have flared over issues including jobs, pay, pensions and safety involving some of the country's biggest trade unions.

British Airways have said it plans to run a full service on Christmas Day and Boxing Day despite the impending strike by cabin crews.

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Santa's Grotto protest outside government department

The grotto was set up outside the Business Department. Credit: PA

Striking Post Office workers set up a Santa's Grotto, complete with live reindeer, outside a government department at the start of a week of industrial action over jobs, pensions and branch closures.

The Communication Workers Union staged the festive protest outside the central London headquarters of the Business Department, including fake snow.

The union handed in more than 70,000 post cards signed by members of the public across the country in support of their campaign.

General secretary Dave Ward warned that the future of the Post Office in high streets was at stake because of the franchising of Crown Post Offices to retail firms such as WH Smith.

The union claimed a fresh wave of closures is set to be announced in the new year.

The Post Office said around 50 branches were closed by the strike.

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Pre-Christmas strikes move into second day

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