UK Now Faces Postal Strike

A British union says thousands of postal workers will strike next week in a dispute over jobs and services.

The Communication Workers Union says up to 10,000 mail sorters, letter carriers and other London employees will walk out June 19 for 24 hours.

The union accused the Royal Mail of making "arbitrary cuts" and called for negotiations.

British public sector unions have increasingly called strikes as employers cut jobs and benefits amid the recession.

The state-owned Royal Mail has struggled to make money since it lost its 350-year-old monopoly, and has had to deal with falling mail volumes as customers switch to e-mail.

An independent review recommended last year the company be partly privatized, but that is opposed by unions.