Managers were forced to leave their offices to keep the mail moving as thousands of postal workers walked out from 4am, bringing the system to a virtual standstill.
The men in suits were seen carrying bags filled with mail from offices in central London, with one even hiring a taxi to ensure customers got their post.
The desperate move came as union chiefs today said Christmas deliveries will be hit and the strikes will get longer as action against Royal Mail is stepped up. A backlog of 100 million items is expected after the next three days of walkouts.
About 43,700 workers across the UK were taking action today. Pickets were on duty at the main sorting office across the capital. Communication Workers Union general secretary Billy Hayes warned: “There is every prospect we will increase the action and could be looking at longer strikes.” Tomorrow 400 staff in Plymouth, Stockport and Stoke will walk out, and 77,000 delivery and collection workers will strike on Saturday.
The union is deadlocked with Royal Mail over the threat it is claimed modernisation poses to jobs and pay. Each side blamed the other when talks collapsed this week.
Royal Mail wanted “real security” over the Christmas period, which sees a doubling of the 75 million letters posted each day, but union chiefs refused to rule out more strikes. Royal Mail also refused to pay staff overtime to clear the backlog.
A senior CWU official said: “We are in this for the long haul.”
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