Thousands of postal workers have walked out in a second day of action, joining telecoms workers, who are are also out on strike, as unions push for higher wage rises for their members.
On Wednesday 115,000 Royal Mail workers were on strike while 40,000 BT and Openreach workers stayed out, in action that began on Tuesday.
The postal worker strikes will disrupt delivery of packages and letters.
Royal Mail staff are planning further strikes on 8 and 9 September.
Members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) at the Royal Mail said they were striking after rejecting a pay rise of 2%, and called on Royal Mail to offer an increase that “covers the current cost of living”.
The Royal Mail said their pay offer had included further pay-rises on condition that workers agreed to modernising reforms, and that the strikes could damage the firm.
“The CWU’s self-centred actions with the wider trade union movement is putting jobs at risk, and making pay rises less affordable… making Royal Mail’s future more uncertain than at any time in its long history,” a Royal Mail spokesperson said.
CWU staff at BT Group are also striking against pay deals that do not keep pace with inflation. Prices in the UK are rising at their fastest for 40 years, with inflation currently at 10.1%.
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“The reason for the strike is simple: workers will not accept a massive deterioration in their living standards,” said CWU general secretary Dave Ward.
The postal strikes are affecting the delivery of post, including premium paid services like Royal Mail Special Delivery, which guarantees arrival by 13:00 the next day. Royal Mail said it was not able to provide any compensation for items that are late as a result of industrial action.
