Post Office staff in fresh strike over closures

Staff at the UK's 372 Crown post offices are to take part in their 12th round of strike action in a dispute about closures, jobs and pay.

Members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and most of Scotland will walk out on Monday.

It will be followed by a strike in some branches in Scotland on Tuesday.

Staff have also been taking other forms of action including a sales ban on financial products and services.

"The company's plans are to downgrade the network, reduce services to local communities and hit jobs in the network," said the CWU.

Crown post offices are the biggest branches in larger towns and cities which make up 3% of the entire Post Office network, and handle about a fifth of its customers.

The union is opposed to plans to franchise or close 75 Crown offices.

They currently make a loss of £37m a year.

The Post Office has previously said the Crown network must be brought into profit through investment and by franchising 70 branches with retail partners.

"This action will not affect over 97% of the Post Office network and the majority of Crown branches have remained open during previous strike action," it said in reference to the latest action.