MORE than 1,000 postal workers across the York postcode area are set to go on strike next week as a bitter row over pay, jobs and working conditions comes to the boil.

Two 24-hour national strikes which will cripple mail deliveries are being planned for next Thursday and Friday by the Communication Workers Union (CWU).

York CWU spokesman Paul Clays said about 500 local mail centre staff and drivers – mostly based in York – would take part in the first strike.

About another 800 delivery and collection staff, based across the York postcode (YO) area, would take part in the second strike on Friday.

He said if the strike went ahead, it would be “absolutely solid” in the York area, and hugely disrupt mail deliveries and collections.

But he said there was still time to avert the action, if only Royal Mail would agree to come back to the table and negotiate with the union.

“We have offered the best peace deal any company has ever had,” he claimed. He also urged the Government to intervene to prevent the strike going ahead. But Royal Mail’s managing director, Mark Higson, said the union’s decision to call a national strike was an “appalling and unjustified attack” on customers and showed a “reckless disregard” for everyone who depended on the company.

“Customers large and small have been hoping the CWU would lift the strike threats and focus on providing the service they need and want – instead the union has given them a slap in the face,” he said.