POSTAL workers across Medway have vowed to fight on as the end of the second of two 48-hour strikes.

Staff at distribution centres and offices in Chatham, Gillingham, Rainham and Rochester started their second walkout at 3am yesterday.

Staff on the picket line at the Chatham Sorting Office, New Road, were in an upbeat mood despite wanting to go back to work.

A spokesman for the group said: “This is certainly not just about pay and pensions. We are fighting for the future of a public service.”

Ward councillor Vince Maple visited the Chatham picket to support the staff.

He said: “They are protecting a service that everyone uses on a daily basis. By going on strike they are doing a very honourable thing.”

The industrial action has been organised by the Communication Workers Union (CWU) who are unhappy with modernisation plans.

They believe attempts to make Royal Mail more efficient could lead to cuts in services.

Dave Banbury, secretary of the Kent Invicta Branch of the CWU, said: “This strike is not just about pay. If Royal Mail attacks the rights of staff then they attack the quality of services for our customers.”

This latest industrial action comes after several rounds of 24-hour strikes in August bought postal services to a standstill.

Royal Mail has condemned the current walk out.

A spokesman for the company said: “The union’s determination to continue calling further strikes will not change the urgent need for us to modernise and become more flexible and efficient.

“The CWU’s strike action is clearly designed to damage the company, its customers and everyone within it.”

The current strike is set to end tomorrow morning.

The CWU say they will hold further strikes if the dispute is not resolved.