STRIKES by postal workers in a row over pay and jobs are to be escalated, disrupting deliveries for two weeks.

The Communication Workers Union (CWU) unveiled a fresh programme of industrial action, which will start next Wednesday evening.

The action coincides with a wildcat strike being carried out by workers at Oxford's Cowley depot, in Garsingston Road.

Different groups of workers will be called out on different days with the aim of maximising disruption, said the CWU.

Postal workers will take only two days of action over the fortnight, but mail services will be continuously disrupted, the union warned.

There have been two nationwide walk-outs in recent weeks following talks which failed to break the deadlock.

The union has rejected a 2.5 per cent pay offer and warned that the Royal Mail's modernisation plans will lead to the loss of 40,000 jobs.

The Royal Mail has warned that further strikes will damage the business as it deals with increased competition.

Meanwhile, millions of items of post will be left undelivered for days as 500 Royal Mail workers in Oxford continue with an unofficial strike.

The employees at the sorting depot in Cowley are involved in a dispute which began on Monday afternoon when post worker Steven Gill was suspended.

Strikers said Mr Gill, who has worked at the depot for ten years, was suspended without reason. Mr Gill was not available for comment.

In a statement, Royal Mail said a second worker had also been suspended.

A meeting on Monday between Communication Workers' Union representative Bob Cullen and Royal Mail management ended in stalemate.

Mr Cullen said: "The action of management is very antagonistic and it was primed to get a reaction - they knew exactly what would happen if they did this.

"They have suspended one, possibly two, people and not even laid a charge against them. If they wanted to stop it, they could stop it in ten minutes. All we want is the two people reinstated."

Each day a million items of post are sorted at Cowley. Managers in shirts and ties were seen driving Royal Mail vans out of the depot.

Strikers were told to return to work by a CWU divisional representative, because the strike was not official.

An official dispute involves members balloting on action and this being endorsed by the union executive. Employers then require seven days notice of any action. However, workers decided to continue the strike.

Royal Mail spokesman Richard Hall said: "Royal Mail is extremely disappointed that despite the CWU renouncing the unofficial action, the union seems to have made little effort to resolve the dispute swiftly, and encourage staff to return to work.

"Royal Mail remain available at any time to discuss the issue at the centre of the dispute, which is being handled in accordance with procedures agreed with the CWU.

"Collections and deliveries have been made today. However disruption to customers is inevitable."

Workers at the Oxford depot will meet at 11am today to decide the next step.

In a separate dispute at the Abingdon delivery office, in Ock Street, 80 postal workers walked out after one worker was suspended for refusing to take on extra work without pay.

After talks between union officials and managers, the man was reinstated. A Royal Mail spokesman said: "The issue was resolved after 40 minutes. Any staff taking on additional work will receive the appropriate overtime payments."