HUNDREDS of postal workers joined picket lines across East London today as part of a 24-hour strike against Royal Mail job cuts. More than 12,000 staged their third walkout in as many weeks bringing sorting offices and delivery centres to a halt in London, Bristol and Edinburgh

By Gemma Collins Photo: Carmen Valino

HUNDREDS of postal workers joined picket lines across East London today as part of a 24-hour strike against Royal Mail job cuts.

More than 12,000 walked out, bringing sorting offices and delivery centres to a halt in London, Bristol and Edinburgh.

Sorting offices hit in East London included the regional centre at Bromley-by-Bow where 100 staff began picketing when the early shift began at 5am (pictured). Many were planning to stay until 10pm tonight, while others later joined a march in the West End for a lunchtime rally.

ILLOGICAL’

The CWU postworkers’ union has accused Royal Mail of making “illogical and arbitrary” cuts.

Nearly one-in-five workers at the centre could face job loss, according to union area rep Angie Mulcahy.

“If we don’t make a stand now, the public won’t have this service in the future,” she said.

“Royal Mail just wants to bring us down ready to privatise us.”

BUSINESSES HURT’

But Royal Mail is accusing workers of attempting to “halt modernisation of the mail business.”

A statement issued today says: “Strike action hurts both businesses and individuals. Customers won’t understand how the union says it backs modernisation while resisting new technology and more efficient working practices.”

East London’s district area delivery depots were also out, including Bethnal Green centre off Hackney Road, which handles post for E2, E8 and E9, and Bow centre in Tredegar Road handling E3 mail, in the third walk-out in a fortnight.