Strikes will not affect festivities

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CENTRAL Oldham Post Office might remain open next week, despite five days of strikes in the run-up to Christmas.

The Communications Workers Union said a long-running dispute over jobs, pensions and branch closures was behind the walkout, which will include Christmas Eve.

The strike, which is due to begin next Monday, follows industrial action in October and September.

But the Post Office is reassuring customers that it will be Christmas as usual in over 97 per cent of its 11,600 branches.

Strike action has been called in fewer than 300 branches, which should not affect the last postal dates. However, a staff member from the Oldham branch said it was too soon to say at the moment whether they would remain open or not.

The Lord Street branch remained open during the last strike on December 3, but closed its doors on September 15 as it joined thousands of workers in strike action.

Kevin Gilliland, Post Office group network and sales director, said: "We had agreed with the CWU that we would resume talks this week, so we are extremely disappointed that it prefers to call for strike action, particularly at such critical time of year.

"This can only cause concern for our customers and our people.

"We want to reassure customers that if strike action takes place next week at least 97 per cent of our 11,600 branches will not be involved. Our priority will be to support them.

"We have robust contingencies that will ensure that all branches have the support and cash they need to operate. Experience tells us we can manage this effectively and minimise the impact on the communities who rely on our services.

"Any action will affect fewer than three hundred of our branches, and many of these will be open to maintain services for customers preparing for Christmas.

"It will be business as usual in almost all of our network, with over 50,000 Post Office people on hand to support customers as they make their preparations for Christmas."

December 20 is the latest recommended date for people sending cards and packages by Royal Mail 2nd class and December 21 is the latest recommended date for 1st class.

Customers can visit postoffice.co.uk to find out if their usual branch may be affected by action, and for more information on nearest alternative nearby branches and their opening hours.