THE chairman of the Isle of Man Post Office has called a postal strike planned for next week a "damaging cause of action".

Yesterday it was announced that some postal workers will carry out a 24 hour strike starting on Tuesday, April 12 at 5.30am.

The Post Office was notified of this decision by the Communication Workers Union which represents around half of Isle of Man Post Office's workforce – 269 members.

Chairman Alan Crow MLC said: "It is disappointing that Mr Pullinger, on behalf of the Communication Workers Union (CWU), has confirmed strike action two days ahead of further talks, despite it being made clear to him by the industrial relations officer that he has until April 21, 2011 to take action.

"For weeks the union has publicly said that the last thing in the world they want is to strike and have pressed for further talks. Mr Pullinger could have easily taken this decision after the meeting on Wednesday.

"It seems that the CWU has been determined to pursue this damaging course of action from the very outset, having first threatened this in June 2010 before the first discussions with management ever took place, causing uncertainty for our customers and staff ever since.

"The CWU position throughout all of the talks is to have new money added to pay and this is impossible with the current freeze on public sector pay budgets in place. This is a clear indication that it fails to grasp the financial situation the Island and government is facing.”

Mike Kelly, Post Office chief executive, said: "We understand and appreciate that a pay freeze is difficult for all our staff to accept, however we continue to urge our staff, who are CWU members, not to strike regardless of the way they voted. Such action will only damage the business, customer and public support and jeopardise jobs. It will not change the government's policy of a freeze on public sector pay budgets."

Contingency plans will be made available later today.

Also see: Post Office chairman "open to further talks" with union