MORE than 80 Royal Mail drivers are are threatening to take strike action over the busy Christmas period.

The workers, who ship mail across North Staffordshire, have been balloted over a dispute which broke out after some postal services were switched to Wolverhampton.

Andy Plant, branch secretary of the Communication Workers' Union, said members feared their jobs were under threat after Royal Mail started transporting Christmas post from Wolverhampton in articulated lorries.

They are worried this will put van drivers' jobs at risk and claim it is leading to mail arriving late at satellite offices across the region.

Workers were balloted on Thursday, which means the earliest that strikes could take place is December 19.

Last Christmas, the postal system in Stoke-on-Trent was thrown into chaos when Royal Mail workers in Burslem went on a five-week strike, only returning to work on January 24.

That industrial action was held in protest over Royal Mail's handling of 12 suspension cases relating to allegations of bullying and harassment.

Mr Plant said: "We recognise that at Christmas it is really busy and mail volumes are such that we need larger vehicles. We said if you give us a guarantee that it returns to normal after Christmas then that is OK, but they wouldn't give us that promise.

"Our members see this as a threat to their employment."

He added: "Now they are putting mail on articulated lorries and mail that is supposed to be going to the satellite offices is coming to Leek Road.

"They are pushing mail that is supposed to be for Newcastle or Biddulph to here, which creates a lot of problems. Offices that should be getting their mail before 6.30am are getting it at about 8am.

"We have tried to sit down with Royal Mail to outline our reservations because it threatens our members who are driving at night. We thought we had a deal but then they pulled the plug."

Royal Mail switched the night-time sorting of letters in the ST postcode area to Wolverhampton in September.

The CWU says it was agreed at the time that distribution workers would transport letters to satellite offices, including depots in Newcastle, Biddulph, Burslem and Longton, in vans.

But after a seasonal increase in post, the company has started shipping the letters in lorries.

A Royal Mail spokesman said: "We are using the bigger vehicles because of the increased mail volumes.

"We have said that will be the case over the Christmas period and we are reviewing the distribution of mail in and out of Stoke-on-Trent after then.

"We hope that staff do not vote for strike action and deliver the services that customers deserve."

Royal Mail revealed earlier in the year it was switching sorting operations for Stoke-on-Trent's mail to Wolverhampton and closing its Leek Road office, in Stoke.

The first phase of the changes took place in September and collection and distribution work, which accounts for about 85 positions, is expected to be transferred sometime next year.

Karen Bowen, chairman of Townsend Residents' Association, said she was prepared to accept late Christmas cards if it gives workers the chance to vent their frustrations.

She said: "It is a busy time for posting letters, but if this is the only way they can get their point across, then I understand this is what the workers have to do.

"They seem to keep taking jobs away from Stoke-on-Trent, so I don't blame the workers."

Malcolm Barber, secretary of the Portland and Cobridge Residents' Association, said: "From their point of view it is the most effective time for a strike, but I think the public might be alienated towards them because it is a time of year when loved ones from all over the globe write to each other.

"I am split because I understand where the postal workers are coming from, but the timing is not ideal."