ROYAL MAIL is braced for industrial action that could last for three months. Postal workers staged their first national strike for a decade on Friday in a row over pay and jobs. Another 24-hour strike is expected within 10 days.

Adam Crozier, its chief executive, is determined to stand firm against the Communication Workers Union. If the group does not modernise, its business will be slowly eroded by firms that have a cheaper cost base, he said. But the cost of modernisation is high. It may result in a further 40,000 workers losing their jobs as Royal Mail moves to automation.

Royal Mail played down the impact of the first strike. It said support for the walkout was patchy, claiming that up to 60% of its staff were working nationally and up to 22% in London.

But the CWU said 95% of its members joined the stoppage, making it its best supported strike ever.

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