What the post strike is all about

Royal Mail says it must modernise to survive. Posted items are dropping by 10 per cent year on year. The Communication Workers Union claims management is not introducing new methods to modernise.

Have jobs been lost and postal services reduced?

Yes, 50,000 jobs in the last five years and the second daily delivery axed.

Will a national strike create more chaos than localised 24-hour walkouts?

Yes, a national strike will bring the industry to a halt. A huge backlog of post will build which will take weeks if not months to clear.

Are there other concerns?

Yes, the Royal Mail pension fund reported a £3.5billion deficit and there are major concerns over the prospect of privatisation of the industry.