PM: Strike will damage Royal Mail

A national postal strike could start as early as 22 October

Royal Mail will suffer long term damage if the planned national postal strike goes ahead, Gordon Brown has warned.

The Prime Minister said the firm could lose major contracts if the "unnecessary" walk-out was not averted.

The Communication Workers Union (CWU) says it will name strike dates on Thursday unless there is a breakthrough to the dispute over pay and conditions.

An early day motion (EDM) supporting an offer put forward by the CWU has been signed by more than 60 MPs.

At Prime Minister's questions Mr Brown said the dispute was "not in the interests of anybody" and warned of the possible long term effects of a strike.

"If Royal Mail start to lose major contracts like those of some of the major firms in this country it will be difficult for them to regain these contracts over a short period of time," he said.

On Monday, John Lewis announced that it was working with other carriers in order to avoid disruption to its online deliveries from any national postal strike, which could start as early as 22 October.

The EDM, tabled by Labour MP Geraldine Smith, calls on the government to do all in its power to ensure that Royal Mail responds positively to the union's proposals, which include a three-year plan to secure stability for the company.

On Tuesday, Royal Mail condemned the threat of a national strike and called on the union to call off the threatened action, warning it was damaging the entire postal service.