Strike disruption threatens post

10:13pm Monday 6th October 2008

Postal deliveries were threatened with disruption on Monday when hundreds of workers refused to cross picket lines.

More than 800 engineering staff belonging to the Communication Workers Union across the country staged the one-day strike in a row over attendance patterns.

They mounted picket lines outside Royal Mail offices across the country.

Hundreds of postal workers in Liverpool refused to cross the picket lines.

MPs are expected to join the protest outside Parliament by the engineering workers, who maintain Royal Mail sites across the country.

The engineering workers are employed by Romec, which carries out building, maintenance and electrical repair work for the Royal Mail network, including a building in Parliament, where Monday's protest was being held.

Ray Ellis, the union's assistant secretary, said the proposals, including scrapping current travel-to-work arrangements, would "significantly" increase the working week.

The workers held a strike last month and a number of meetings have been held at the conciliation service Acas, but the dispute remains deadlocked.