Post Office workers announce new strike over plan to close 70 branches

Union members vote to walk out on 7 May as company presses ahead with move to franchise out 'crown' branches to retailers

The Post Office said franchising out 70 branches was essential to securing the future of the service. Photograph: Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images

Post Office workers on Tuesday announced plans for their fourth strike since Easter after the company confirmed plans to transfer 70 of its big high street and city centre branches to retailers.
The Communication Workers Union (CWU), said the plan to franchise out 70 of the Post Office's 370 "crown" branches would "rip the heart out" of the network.
Billy Hayes, general secretary of the CWU, said: "This is a seminal moment for the Post Office. Closure and franchising plans would decimate the remaining crown network, slashing it by over 20%."
The CWU's 4,000 crown post office members on Tuesday voted nine-to-one in favour of a full-day strike on 7 May, the day after the May bank holiday. Staff have already held three strikes against the franchising plan since Easter Saturday, including a half-day strike on Monday.
The Post Office, which is state-owned and receiving £1.3bn of taxpayer subsidy, said franchising out 70 of the crown branches was essential to securing the future of the service.

VIKAS KUMAR GUPTA
PGDM 2ND SEM