Post Office strike: Kingsland High Street and Finsbury Park staff plan more action before Christmas

Workers at two Hackney Post Offices will strike over Christmas in protest at the branches’ mooted closure.

Diane Abbott MP joined union members on outside the Post Office in Kingsland High Street. Pictured from left: Joan Kelly, who works in the branch, Andy Furey, Communications Workers Union national officer for Post Offices, Diane Abbott MP and Mark Baulch, CWU national executive committee member. Picture: Polly Hancock - Credit: Archant

Union members at Kingsland High Street and Finsbury Park are looking to increase the pressure on their paymasters following Saturday morning’s strike, which shut both shops.

The 22 jobs across the two sites may be at risk if a plan to franchise them out goes ahead.

“We are looking to escalate industrial action over the Christmas period and hold a public meeting early in the New Year,” said Clive Tickner, the Communications and Workers Union rep for both offices.

He told the Gazette he was very satisfied with the response to Saturday’s walk out: “It went really well, we got a great reaction and Dianne Abbot came down to express her sympathy with our situation.”

The Post Office advertised the branches for franchising in July of this year as part of a sweeping reform of its network.

Despite the protests, the Post Office maintains local services will not suffer should the plans go ahead.