Brown urges end to postal strike

The prime minister has called on Royal Mail and the Communication Workers Union (CWU) to "get round the table" to bring an end to industrial action. "This strike will be self-defeating if all it means is that less people use the Royal Mail," Gordon Brown said.

He was speaking after the start of the first nationwide postal strike in two years, which began at 0400 BST. Meanwhile, the BBC has learned that three strike days will be announced for next week. The CWU declined to comment. The CWU has said it may make an announcement on further developments later, but had previously said that it would be announcing plans for further strike action.

The news came as about 42,000 mail centre staff and drivers staged a 24-hour strike. On Friday, about 78,000 delivery and collection workers are expected to walk out.

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source: BBC