Thousands of postal workers are said to be on strike over wage disputes.
Members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) at 114 Crown Post Offices – the larger branches often located on high streets – will move out on July 11.
It will be the third strike by postal workers this year. The union said members had rejected a wage offer said to be worth 3% and a lump sum of £500.
The Post said the vast majority of its branches were unaffected.
“There are 114 branches, typically in city centers, managed directly by the post office and on previous strike days more than a third are open as usual,” a spokesman said.
Postal workers are the latest to strike over wages, with workers and unions pushing for pay increases to cope with the higher cost of living.
Prices are rising at their fastest pace in 40 years, with UK inflation at 9.1%, its highest level since March 1982. Higher costs for fuel, energy and goods burden household budgets.
The government has warned that employers are handing out big raises for fear of a 1970s-style “inflationary spiral” in which companies raise wages and then pass the cost on to customers through higher prices.
Thousands of RMT Union rail workers went on strike over wages last week and hundreds of British Airways workers at Heathrow Airport also voted to strike over wages.
However, CWU Assistant Secretary Andy Furey said this pay dispute is about “dignity and respect for hard-working employees – key government officials who have been key workers in providing unprecedented customer service during the pandemic”.
“No worker wants to be in that situation, but post office managers shouldn’t be surprised that callous decisions are being challenged by our members,” he said.
“Our members feel betrayed and will not tolerate their standard of living being destroyed by people responsible for a public service which has generated tens of millions of pounds in annual profits as a result of the efforts of our members.”
Around 3,500 employees are involved in the dispute. There was already a strike at the beginning of May.
The union branded the Post’s pay offer a “massive real pay cut” and Mr Furey said there was “more than enough money for a decent pay rise” for workers.
The Post was “disappointed” with the planned strike, but hoped for a collective bargaining agreement soon.
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