Postal workers are set to stage a national strike next month unless a dispute over working conditions is resolved, the Communication Workers Union has announced.

The threatened 24-hour walk-out on May 8 would be the first nationwide stoppage since 1996.

Forum Response: Communication Workers Union

John Keggie, deputy general secretary of the Communication Workers Union, told ePolitix.com: "The business want us to sign up to changes that could worsen the postal service for the public. We are not prepared to be bludgeoned into accepting its half-developed plans.

"Royal Mail are insisting the union accepts changes that would leave CWU members with duties of over four hours without a break; would not allow a trial of any union proposals for the future of postal deliveries; and would ultimately lead to a worse service for domestic customers."Our patience has run out. Our members pay award is six months overdue, and the business wants us to begin a mediation process that could last for months. Besides this, with the greatest respect for ACAS, they clearly do not have the experience to determine the length of the delivery round. However, we will go back to the conciliation service this week, in a last-ditch effort to avoid industrial action."