Postal workers at Royal Mail kick off nationwide strike

A man arrives at the Royal Mail office in central London October 22, 2009. Thousands of postal workers at state-owned Royal Mail walked out on Thursday, kicking off a crippling 48-hour nationwide strike and blaming bosses and the government for failing to prevent the action.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Striking Royal Mail workers cook food on a barbecue as they stand on the picket line outside the North West Mail Distribution Centre in Warrington, northern England, October 22, 2009. Thousands of postal workers at state-owned Royal Mail walked out on Thursday, kicking off a crippling 48-hour nationwide strike and blaming bosses and the government for failing to prevent the action.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

A Royal Mail postal worker walks between delivery vans at the Nine Elms depot in South London October 22, 2009. Thousands of postal workers at state-owned Royal Mail walked out on Thursday, kicking off a crippling 48-hour nationwide strike and blaming bosses and the government for failing to prevent the action.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Striking Royal Mail workers cook food on a barbecue as they stand on the picket line outside the North West Mail Distribution Centre in Warrington, northern England October 22, 2009. Thousands of postal workers at state-owned Royal Mail walked out on Thursday, kicking off a crippling 48-hour nationwide strike and blaming bosses and the government for failing to prevent the action.

A closed post box is seen in central London October 22, 2009. Thousands of postal workers at state-owned Royal Mail walked out on Thursday, kicking off a crippling 48-hour nationwide strike and blaming bosses and the government for failing to prevent the action.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)