Post strikes 'protecting future'

Mike Critchley said orders in and deliveries out were affected

Industrial action carried out by Royal Mail staff is protecting the future of the postal service, unions say.

The comments by Communication Workers Union (CWU) in Devon and Cornwall comes after mail order companies said strikes had hit orders in the Christmas run-up.

The last round of strikes resulted in a backlog of 35 million items of undelivered mail, Royal Mail said.

The CWU said its action was supported by many customers. Royal Mail apologised for the disruption.

Businesses said they were using courier firms instead of the Royal Mail to deliver items and the strike had hit orders that would normally be posted in.

If they order, will they get the books for Christmas? Mike Critchley

Mike Critchley, who runs a firm publishing and delivering naval books in Liskeard, said orders posted out had been delayed, and potential customers could decide not to use such businesses.

He said: "The whole of the the strike has created a whole air of uncertainty. People are questioning that, if they order, will they get the books for Christmas?

"We rely on the Royal Mail to bring our orders in, and like many other customers, we've been sitting here twiddling our fingers on certain days."

He said he had posted out 4,000 magazines and catalogues "which will go nowhere until the Royal Mail are strike-free".

'Big bucks'

Chris Webb of the CWU in the South West said staff understood that businesses were upset but that the strike action was "not just about now, it's about the future".

He said: "If the unions win this dispute, then we protect this industry and restore a world class postal service in this country.

"If we lose this dispute, it's the end of the postal service, because Royal Mail is set on running it into the ground, privatising it and making big bucks for the executives."

A Royal Mail spokesman said: "Every letter is important to us and we apologise unreservedly for the disruption and inconvenience our customers have suffered as a result of the CWU's strikes."

The CWU is planning further walkouts on 6 and 9 November.