POSTAL workers in Bolton remained solid in their latest one-day strike yesterday despite reports of a drift back to work in other parts of the country.

Members of the Communication Workers Union representing staff at the Royal Mail staged another 24-hour-strike and four more are planned after the union's ruling National Executive Committee rejected a proposed settlement hammered out last week.

Royal Mail said yesterday the strike was starting to crumble as workers in the south turned in for work. There were also reports that branch officials in the south were recommending that their members report for work.

But leaders of the Bolton and Bury CWU branch said support for the dispute remained solid with no members reporting for work at the offices in Farnworth and Stone Hill Road.

Bolton's Area Delivery Rep for the CWU Darren McGreavy said the strike was also well supported in Wigan and Leigh.

Mr McGreavy said the dispute, over proposed new working practices, will continue and is confident the union will hold out for a better deal.

He said: "The settlement proposed was more or less the same as the previous one with a few words changed. I am sure the strikes will remain solid."

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