Postal workers stage unofficial strike

Hundreds of postal workers walked out

Hundreds of postal workers in Oxford are holding an unofficial strike action in a dispute over pay and conditions.

Around 350 sorting staff have refused to clock on since Friday night.

Another 50 workers at the Headington delivery office walked out in support on Saturday morning.

The action comes despite the first national strike of postal workers in seven years being averted on Wednesday.

Union members across the country voted to reject industrial action by a margin of less than 2,000 votes, following pressure from Royal Mail bosses.

Emergency meeting

But, in Oxford, staff said they were so concerned about the possible imposition of a national pay deal and job cuts that they decided to strike anyway.

Communication Workers Union (CWU) bosses have called an emergency meeting in the hope of convincing their members to go back to work.

It is believed that even if staff do return to work on Monday the backlog of mail will take days to clear.

The strike has already meant no deliveries in Headington and a limited service in the rest of the area.