POSTAL workers are to take strike action in the run up to the busy Christmas period.

More than three quarters of Communication Workers’ Union’s 110,000 members voted in favour of walk outs in protest to changes to working practices as well as cuts in pay and job losses.

Around 850 postal workers in Bury and Bolton are expected to take part in the strikes, which could start by the end of the month.

Mick Hargreaves, branch secretary of the Bolton and Bury CWU, said: “The last thing we want to do is go on strike but the members have had enough.

“Royal Mail wants to press ahead with more modernisation without any regard for the people who it is going to affect. We are not against modernisation but we want to be a part of it.”

The last national strike was held in 2007 although a number of different CWU branches have taken part in industrial action over the last two months.

Dave Ward, the CWU deputy general secretary, said there was still time for a resolution to be found.

He said: “We want reassurances on job security, covering both redundancies and full-time, part-time ratios.

“This is a huge vote of no confidence in Royal Mail management.”

Royal Mail condemned the CWU’s plans as “deplorable” and said the union’s action would drive customers away and undermine confidence. Mark Higson, managing director, said: “The priority facing everyone in Royal Mail is to deliver the best possible service to customers in the run up to Christmas. We have held more than 70 meetings with the CWU over the last few months and we call on them now to stop the strikes, get back round the table and talk.”