Postal strikes ‘could put teachers’ strikes at risk’

Delays caused by a walkout this month of more than 100,000 members of the Communication Workers Union, which represents postal workers, have led to fears that some Christmas cards will not arrive until February.

“There are mountains of postal votes that haven’t arrived yet,” a source said. “It’s very difficult to have any idea where we will end up.”

The deadline to get ballot papers in for the 300,000 National Education Union (NEU) members is Jan 13, while the deadline for the NASUWT, which also has around 300,000 members, is on Jan 9.

Dr Mary Bousted, the NEU general secretary, said: “In all my time as general secretary, I haven’t seen such anger. We’ve got teachers using food banks, teachers who are scared to put petrol in their car because they can’t afford it, and leaving the profession in droves.”

She declined to comment on the impact of postal strikes, saying she could not disclose details of the votes that have been received.

Another teaching union source said it was hoped that provisions already in place to take into account problems with postal ballots, such as the possibility of sending ballot papers to incorrect addresses, would minimise any disruption.

It comes as more than 1,000 border staff resumed strike action at six airports on Wednesday, while rail staff at Great Western Railway and West Midlands Trains began a 24-hour walkout.

Driving examiners launched a five-day strike as part of escalating industrial action by civil servants in a dispute over pay, jobs and pensions.