MERSEYSIDE business leaders last night called for Royal Mail and postmen to settle their differences to avert a crippling walk-out.
A strike by postal workers threatens huge disruption to local industry and could force them into the hands of private carriers, they added.
Members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) voted three-to-one yesterday to push ahead with a national strike.
They are furious about measures being taken by Royal Mail managers to change the business.
Merseyside CWU said mail is now being delivered later in Liverpool, and there are around 150 fewer staff sorting and delivering post.
Almost 81,000 CWU members took part in the ballot – a turnout of 67%. A total of 61,623 backed action, with 19,207 against, a majority of 76.24%. Reacting to the news, Chris Burgess, an entrepreneur and chair of the Liverpool branch of the Federation of Small Businesses, said: “Most of our members use the Royal Mail to get parcels delivered. If the management and the unions don’t get together and iron this out, the small business people may go out to other firms, which means they will lose business.”
