Britain's postal service faces more disruption next month after union leaders announced two 48-hour strikes this afternoon.
Members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) will effectively strike from Friday October 5th to Monday October 8th as the non-striking day, October 7th, is a Sunday.
The move is the latest in a series of strikes by workers angered by Royal Mail's modernisation drive, which it says is damaging rather than improving the postal business.
CWU deputy general secretary Chris Ward described Royal Mail's proposed settlement on pay and business charges as "draconian and destructive".
He added: "The workforce has had enough of Royal Mail messing them around. We're not going to tolerate an employer that ignores its workforce, ignores the union and ignores its customers."
Royal Mail said it was "disappointed" by the news and said it would prioritise services to "vulnerable members of society", continue special delivery services and maintain one collection from post boxes outside post offices during the strike.
It has previously argued its modernisation plans, which union leaders claim will result in the loss of up to 40,000 jobs, are necessary to maintain a viable business in the future.
Prime minister Gordon Brown has said workers must accept the pay settlement to "make sure inflation is low in the years to come".
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