POSTAL workers went on indefinite strike today after branding Royal Mail managers a "disgrace."

Customers across Stoke-on-Trent will have to take letters and parcels to a post office to make sure they are delivered on time.

That is because normal collections will not be taking place in the ST1-6, 8-9 and 11-12 postcode areas for an open-ended period of time.

Employees at Stoke-on-Trent's main sorting office in Leek Road, Stoke, pictured, are furious at plans to close the depot and transfer operations to Wolverhampton.

Union leaders say the proposal will leave just 15 full-time employees at the depot, with the remaining 100 having to accept redundancy or face a 60-mile round trip every day.

Last-ditch talks to prevent the walkout broke down last night.

And this morning Leek Road staff went on strike – with no indication of when they will return.

Communication Workers Union (CWU) divisional representative Mick Kavanagh said: "I met directors and told them we would suspend the action for a period of time if constructive talks were taking place.

"But they refused to budge from their position. I think it is disgusting the way they are treating our members in Stoke and now there is no alternative to the strike action.

"They seem hell-bent on doing what they are doing without any agreement from employees at all.

"The way they are treating members is a disgrace and I would suggest that the people of Stoke-on-Trent should be asking Royal Mail and asking the politicians what is going on.

"This is a really serious dispute now."

The Royal Mail has condemned the industrial action, arguing that change and greater efficiency is needed as mail volumes fall and the organisation feels the effects of modern communication channels and competition.

Mail volumes are falling by around 10 per cent each year, with every one per cent costing about £70 million annually in lost revenue, a spokesman said, while strikes only serve to damage business and leave jobs under greater threat.

She added that the planned Leek Road walkout is "completely at odds with the CWU's repeated claim to support modernisation".

The spokesman said: "We continue to talk with our employees in Stoke and their representatives.

"We have listened to their concerns and worked hard to find solutions that will give the best possible set of options going forward.

"From these discussions we have already increased job opportunities in the Stoke area and reduced the need for our staff to travel outside of the area for work."

Workers have already staged two 24-hour strikes, but today's action is a significant escalation.

Union leaders say employees are prepared to stay out for as long as it takes to win concessions from senior management.

Mr Kavanagh added: "Our members have made the decision to go out on indefinite strike and it is our members who will decide when to go back."

Royal Mail has also revealed plans to close the cash transit office at Leek Road, which employs 15 people.

The CWU says seven workers have been asked to transfer to Sheffield, Chester or Birmingham, with the rest facing the axe.

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