Mandelson comments on 'suicidal' postal strike plans

Date: 14th October 2009

Business secretary Lord Mandelson has weighed in on the current dispute between Royal Mail and the Communication Workers Union (CWU), which could result in national postal strikes beginning next week.

The minister said that the industrial action would be a "suicidal act" from postal workers, diminishing use of the service among both corporations and consumers.

Fears over delays in the delivery of self-assessment tax returns by the strikes have already been raised by accountants.

Last week, Chas Roy-Chowdhury at the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants warned that taxpayers should allow "sufficient time" in getting their forms in by the deadline.

Lord Mandelson commented: "We remain in close contact with the [CWU] and Royal Mail management and our message is clear - strikes are not the way to resolve differences or safeguard the future of our postal services.

"A national postal strike defies logic."

CWU has given Royal Mail until tomorrow to accept the terms of a "peace deal", otherwise it will name the dates of national strikes.

At the heart of the dispute is the service's modernisation plans, which the union claims could result in job losses and pay cuts for workers.

The deadline for paper self-assessment tax returns falls on October 31st.