POST across Fareham will remain undelivered today as workers walk out in protest over a raft of disputes with postal bosses including the timing of meal breaks.

In the first of two 24-hour strikes workers at the Newgate Lane sorting office began picketing at 6am today despite a last ditch effort by regional managers to avoid the action.

At the 11th hour talks Consignia bosses failed to thrash out an agreement with union officials, citing a change of break time as the main stumbling block.

Over 100 staff voted to press on with strike action despite assurances by Consignia over uniform and staff review issues.

Communication Workers' Union spokesman Richard Tabbner said: "This was all too little too late. We did get some assurances from management but they were asking us to take a leap of faith with them that they would deliver their promises. Based on past experience our members felt they couldn't do that.

"Obviously we are sorry to our customers for the disruption but working conditions are getting to the point where drastic action needs to be taken and this was the only way to get the point across."

According to union officials the main sticking point is a change of meal break from 10am to 7.30am although Consignia bosses claim the dispute is over unofficial break times

Mr Tabbner said: "We have been told we can't go on our round until after having this but it is a nonsense because the mail is being delivered 40 minutes later while we have a meal break we don't even want."

But according to Consignia the new regulations are designed to improve the service for customers.

Head of external relations for Consignia Richard Smith said: "Basically there are some old-fashioned practices going on at Fareham and they need to be brought in line with the rest of the country's sorting office.

"All we want to do is provide the best possible service for our customers and we can't do that while workers are taking unofficial teabreaks before completing their rounds.

"In this competitive business there is no point in striking, it achieves nothing except irritating the customers who pay their wages."

Regional secretary Gary Hepburn said: "This strike action is disappointing and we would like a speedy resolution to the problems between union members and management to ensure service is res-umed as quickly as possible."

More than 100 managers across Hampshire have been called in to operate a skeleton delivery and collection service.

Mr Smith said: "We will try to cover the service as best we can and make as many deliveries as possible throughout the strike action."

The second 24-hour walk-out is set to go ahead on Monday.