Royal Mail staff stage walk-out

Steve Goodison and Paul Dawson are among those suspended

Postal workers at a city sorting office have walked out on strike after 12 of their colleagues were suspended.

Up to 75 Royal Mail employees stopped work at the delivery office in Scotia Road, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, on Monday.

A Royal Mail spokeswoman said the 12 staff had been suspended on full pay over allegations of bullying and harassment.

Deliveries in the area were severely disrupted.

In a statement Royal Mail said it was "disappointed that 75 employees have walked out and commenced unofficial industrial action following the suspensions".

'Zero tolerance'

It said 13 employees continued to work normally.

It said the staff had been suspended while the allegations were "thoroughly investigated", adding that it had a "zero tolerance attitude to harassment of any kind".

Jason Holdcroft had been back at work for just two days

Three of the suspended workers protested their innocence, saying they had not been told what the exact allegations were.

Steve Goodison said: "It's a sad day. Twenty-three years I've worked for Royal Mail and I've never been disciplined in my life."

Paul Dawson said he was "in shock" at the "unfounded allegations".

And Jason Holdcroft, who returned to work this week after several weeks of paternity leave, said: "I've done two days and then I'm suspended for bullying and harassment but I don't actually know who it is I've bullied and harassed."

At a meeting at a nearby pub, the suspended workers urged their colleagues to return to work on Wednesday.

Staff at the same office went on strike in March over a colleague's sacking.

Nationally, the Communication Workers' Union has said it has plans for industrial action after failing to reach an agreement with Royal Mail over pay.