Royal Mail workers announce more strike dates

LONDON, Aug 2 (Reuters) Royal Mail workers announced a new wave of 24-hour strikes today after talks failed to resolve a dispute over pay and job cuts.

Workers held the first national walk-out in 11 years in June and there were further rolling strikes last month.

The Communication Workers Union (CWU) said the industrial action was due to Royal Mail's ''below inflation pay offer'' and its plans to reduce the workforce by around 40,000 by automating mail-sorting processes.

It said the latest strikes would come against the Royal Mail's modernisation plans, due to start on August 13, which would make changes to delivery times and reduce customer services.

''The union has made a fresh offer for a period of calm,'' CWU Deputy General Secretary Dave Ward said today. ''All Royal Mail have to do is take a step back and engage in meaningful negotiations.'' The planned 24-hour stoppages will affect different Royal Mail units from August 9 to 17.

The Royal Mail said it could not understand why the CWU had announced more strike dates when the parties were engaged in talks at the conciliation service Acas.

It said the strikes were costing the company business.

''Royal Mail also deplores the move by the union, in spite of these talks, to attempt to cause further disruption to customers' mail,'' a spokesman said.

''As the CWU is responsible for calling the strikes, they are clearly free to stop this damaging action at any time. Royal Mail urges them to do so, in the interests of our customers, our people, and the future of the business.'' REUTERS KK BST0042