A damaging national postal strike, due to begin on 22 October, could be averted if the Government got off the fence and started listening to postal workers.

This was the blunt message delivered by the Pendle MP, Gordon Prentice, to a packed meeting of postmen and post women who converged on Westminster to lobby for support.

Communications Workers Union representatives from East Lancashire, including Stuart Caddy from Burnley and Martin Berry from Blackburn, made their views known.

Speaking afterwards, the Pendle MP said: "Postal workers voted three to one in favour of industrial action – should it come to that. Every second person I spoke to complained about bullying and intimidation by the management. They complained about agreements being ripped up and changes being imposed unilaterally. But everyone wants this dispute settled, by negotiation."

The MP added: "It is in no-one’s interest for this dispute to boil over into a national strike. That is why I am calling on the Government – the sole shareholder in the Royal Mail – to get involved. Ministers cannot stand on the sidelines and pretend it is not a matter for them."

"The pensions deficit which is now forecast to be running at about £10 billion is the direct result of a 13 year long contributions holiday. As long as it is there, and the issue is left unaddressed, it will be a ball and chain around the Royal Mail, preventing the organisation from moving forward."

"The Government has sought to part privatise the Royal Mail but in June the Business Secretary, Peter Mandelson, said the proposals would be delayed in the absence of realistic offers from credible buyers."

"There is clearly a complete breakdown in trust between postal workers and the Royal Mail’s Chief Executive, Adam Crozier."

"He has totally alienated the workforce."