DEFIANT postal workers have staged another day of strike action in an ongoing dispute with Royal Mail bosses over job security.

Members of the Bournemouth and Dorset branch of the Communication Workers Union picketed the giant sorting office on the Nuffield Industrial Estate today (THUR 29).

Branch secretary, Derek Clash, joined drivers and postmen on the picket line at the Dorset Mail Centre and said action would stop when management agreed conditions to negotiate.

"We do accept the need for job losses. Our industry has lost 63,000 jobs in the last five years. But we do not accept the way those losses have been managed," he said.

"With regard to technology, we accept the need to modernise, but we haven't had any new technology in this area, just increased workloads."

Mr Clash said public opinion was still on the side of postal workers, who he said played a vital role in the community.

"We have got the public's support. They are sympathetic and realise how important post men and women are to vulnerable members of the community, particularly to senior citizens," said Mr Clash.

Driver, Ray Vivian, 48, claimed morale among workers was at an all time low.

"I've worked for the Royal Mail for 32 years and I've seen plenty of changes. The way we do the job bears no resemblance to how we used to do it. For Royal Mail to say we are resistant to change is simply not true," said Mr Vivian.

But Royal Mail bosses condemned the strike action, saying CWU leaders had walked away from peace talks brokered by TUC boss Brendan Barber and returned with new demands.

Mark Higson, managing director of Royal Mail Letters, said: "We have repeatedly asked for a common sense approach that allows a strike-free Christmas while we talk about the future yet even that seems too much for the CWU to accept."

A further day of strike action is planned for Saturday (31).