POST Office workers will down tools today (September 30) in an ongoing dispute over closures, jobs and pay.

Members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) at 12 Crown Post Offices across Sussex will take part in their 12th round of strike action this year.

The union is opposed to plans to franchise or close 75 of the 372 Crown Offices nationwide.

Crown Post Offices are those directly owned and managed by Post Office Ltd.

They currently make a loss of £37 million a year.

Dave Ward, CWU deputy general secretary, said: "If the Post Office thinks this dispute will simply fade away they are sadly mistaken. “Our members are fiercely opposed to the company's plans to close and franchise offices, slash jobs and impose a pay freeze.”

The Sussex offices set to be disrupted today are in Bexhill, Bognor, Lewes, Littlehampton, Chichester, Crawley, Hastings, Haywards Heath, Horsham, Newhaven, St Leonards and Worthing Counter.

Staff are also taking action such as a pro-active sales ban on financial products and services. The Post Office has previously said the Crown network must be brought into profit through investment and by franchising 70 branches with retail partners.

With no end in sight to the current dispute, union bosses are warning industrial action could run into the festive period.

Mr Ward said: "We have tried talking to the Post Office about costs and efficiencies, but this is a company which made £94 million profit last year and paid significant bonuses totalling £15.4 million primarily to senior managers. “This can't be paid for by cuts to front-line jobs and services, it's simply not right. “The strike and the continuing sales ban activity will continue into the Christmas period unless management see sense and negotiate a fair deal for Crown office staff." Strike action will affect up to 4,000 staff working in 372 Crown post offices. Post Office staff voted by nine to one (88%) in favour of strike action and have already taken strike action on 11 occasions this year, including Easter Saturday.