ROYAL Mail workers in Dorset have backed a national mail strike.

More than 61,000 of the Communication Workers Union’s 121,000 postal workers – two-thirds of those who voted – were in favour of the national strike in an ongoing dispute over pay and modernisation issues.

The action could start as soon as next week and may last for several days, causing more chaos and delayed deliveries.

Recent regional strikes have already resulted in a backlog of an estimated 30 million letters and could have a knock-on effect on the Christmas post even if the national strike does not go ahead.

Derek Clash, branch secretary of the CWU Bournemouth & Dorset, claimed management were using “bullying and intimidation tactics” to implement the changes, with adverse affects on deliveries and the distribution of mail.

He added: “Hopefully Royal Mail will see sense and come up with a solution and the threat of strike action can be averted.

“The CWU accepts that Royal Mail needs to modernise, but there are ways for progressing this process with the support of the union, which has not been the situation.”

The Royal Mail has branded the CWU’s plan as “deplorable and irresponsible” and urged the union to honour a no-strike agreement. Mark Higson, managing director at Royal Mail, said: “It is clearly reprehensible for the union to continue to hold strikes when Royal Mail is not planning any further efficiency changes for the rest of 2009.

“The union leadership agreed to these changes but have reneged on that agreement. Royal Mail again calls on the CWU to abandon its unjustified strikes and to help the business deliver the service our customers deserve.”

If the strikes go ahead, it will be the first national action taken since 2007, when a massive 200 million parcels and letters were delayed.