WORKERS at local Royal Mail sorting offices have again joined colleagues from the Communications Workers Union in taking strike action today (Thursday, 8 September) in support of their dispute over pay and terms and conditions and their fears for the long term future of the service.

They manned picket lines in Grays and Corringham, where branch chairman Keith elgar spoke to Thurrock Nub News about the reasons his members were taking action (see video) .

They were joined by independent Homesteads ward councillor Gary Byrne who said he beleived the vast majority of local people supported the workers' action and beleived that they should get a better pay deal and the home letters delivery service should be protected.

The workers will strike again tomorrow and 30 September and 1 October unless there is a resolution to the dispute.

The CWU said its 115,000 members did not support an "imposed" 2% pay rise. Royal Mail says the union rejected an offer worth up to 5.5% - a figure disputed by the CWS which says the compnay is massaging the figures.

CWU general secretary Dave Ward said: "There can be no doubt that postal workers are completely united in their determination to secure the dignified, proper pay rise they deserve.

"We can't keep on living in a country where bosses rake in billions in profit while their employees are forced to use food banks."

He highlighted the £400m the company had returned to shareholders in the last year, saying "our members won't accept pleads of poverty from the company".

Royal Mail's latest adjusted operating profit for the year to March was £416m, up from £344m previously, but the company says it is currently losing £1m a day.

A spokesperson from Royal Mail apologised to customers for the inconvenience and reiterated that it was now a parcels business.

"We must adapt old ways of working designed for letters," the spokesperson said. "Strike action has weakened our financial position and is threatening the long-term job security of our postmen and women.

"The CWU has a responsibility to recognise the reality of the situation Royal Mail faces as a business and to engage urgently on the changes required."