HUNDREDS of postal workers across the county are considering strike action which could hit Christmas deliveries.

The Communications Workers Union (CWU) is balloting its postal members over a series of disagreements including pensions and pay since Royal Mail was privatised four years ago.

The union’s south central postal branch, based in Blackbird Leys, has been gathering support from workers at depots across Oxfordshire over the past few days.

CWU deputy general secretary Terry Pullinger said: “Management’s vision of the future is no longer the growth agenda, no longer to grow products and services and create new revenues.

“They have that their future profitability relies on them turning their sights on the workforce and the operations.”

But Royal Mail said workers had ‘no grounds to strike’ and urged them not to vote for industrial action.

Its regional operations director, Liz Law, said: “Our postmen and women have the best pay - and the best terms and conditions - in our industry.

“They do an amazing job in all weathers, rain or shine.

“Average pay is 45-50 per cent above the national living wage and none of that is changing, there are just no grounds for a strike.

She added: “Previous strikes at Royal Mail meant we let our customers down.

“There is no point shooting ourselves in the foot.”

She also said its pension proposal would also be the best in the industry but that its current system would require at least three times more cash than the firm generates and had to be changed.

The ballot closes on October 3 and the result will be announced the same day.