Job cuts: Strike vote for mail managers

The Unite union says 8,500 managers based in head offices at the Royal Mail, Parcelforce and the Post Office will vote on whether to launch a campaign of industrial action.

The union said the ballot was being held in protest at plans to cut 1,500 managers' jobs at the postal group. It will start at the beginning of November.

A Royal Mail spokesman said: "We continue talking with Unite and have stressed we will continue doing our utmost to manage any job losses by voluntary means and that we have increased our existing voluntary redundancy package - and as they know, these reductions are essential as we continue adapting to our rapidly changing and declining market."