by Hayley Robinson

Two hundred workers at the Royal Mail delivery office in Chatham are set to strike tomorrow.

The Communication Workers Union members are expected to stand at the rear of the office in Best Street, between 6am and noon.

The action follows continuing rows over jobs, pay and the modernisation of Royal Mail.

Dave Ward, CWU deputy general secretary, said: “Postal workers are striking to defend future services as well as for jobs and modern conditions.

“Modernisation is crucial to the future success of Royal Mail, but the implementation of change must be agreed and it must bring with it modern pay and conditions. Modernisation should improve services not cut them.

“We believe that Royal Mail management has completely mishandled the current situation. Disruption is hurting small businesses and other consumers, but postal workers are suffering more than anyone in the current dispute. Small businesses stand to suffer more with reduced services in the future, if Royal Mail doesn’t reach a national agreement.”

A Royal Mail spokesman said: “The CWU has done its utmost through strike action in the Medway to delay the mail and Royal Mail again calls on the union to stop hurting customers and provide the service our customers need and expect.

"Royal Mail is doing everything we can including drafting in management volunteers as well as fully trained and vetted agency staff and drivers, who we sometimes call on during busy periods anyway, to keep mail moving and call upon CWU to call off these damaging strikes which only inconvenience customers and harm our business.”