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BOOZED-UP posties brought disgrace to the picket lines yesterday.
Strikers downed strong lager and swore at motorists as their action heaped misery on millions.
The strike, which started on Thursday, has led to a 30million backlog of letters - predicted to rise to 200million by the end of next week.
But one group of strikers made light of the crisis - and launched their second day of striking with an early morning booze up. Chef Mark Kershaw, 21, passed the 30-strong picket line in Skegness, Lincs.
He said: "They had got a stack of cases and were necking bottles of Stella. The line smelled of ale and it was obvious some were drunk.
"A motorist shouted for them to get back to work.
"One of them raised his bottle and shouted 'F*** off'. It's not how to get suppport for a strike."
Early morning party ... boozing posties pose for snap in Skegness
Last night CWU union spokesman Paul Moffat admitted strikers in Skegness had been drinking - but claimed no one was drunk.
He also confirmed an altercation with a motorist though he denied there was swearing.
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He said: "We've reiterated to them there should never be alcohol on a picket line."
Meanwhile, mail jammed postboxes as 42,000 staff who walked out on Thursday were joined by 78,000 yesterday.
Some 5,000 managers rolled up sleeves to help - and the Royal Mail said one in five staff had crossed picket lines.
The CWU plans three more days of strikes from next Thursday over pay, jobs and modernisation. It warned last night that strikes could last beyond Christmas and threatened legal action over the recruitment of 30,000 temps to handle backlogs.
Business Secretary Lord Mandelson yesterday said the heart of the dispute was about modernisation.
He denied claims he had provoked the CWU and admitted relations had broken down between parts of the union and the Royal Mail.
Bosses refuse to go to conciliation talks until strike threats are withdrawn.
BOOZED-UP posties brought disgrace to the picket lines yesterday.
Strikers downed strong lager and swore at motorists as their action heaped misery on millions.
The strike, which started on Thursday, has led to a 30million backlog of letters - predicted to rise to 200million by the end of next week.
But one group of strikers made light of the crisis - and launched their second day of striking with an early morning booze up. Chef Mark Kershaw, 21, passed the 30-strong picket line in Skegness, Lincs.
He said: "They had got a stack of cases and were necking bottles of Stella. The line smelled of ale and it was obvious some were drunk.
"A motorist shouted for them to get back to work.
"One of them raised his bottle and shouted 'F*** off'. It's not how to get suppport for a strike."
Early morning party ... boozing posties pose for snap in SkegnessLast night CWU union spokesman Paul Moffat admitted strikers in Skegness had been drinking - but claimed no one was drunk.
He also confirmed an altercation with a motorist though he denied there was swearing.
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He said: "We've reiterated to them there should never be alcohol on a picket line."
Meanwhile, mail jammed postboxes as 42,000 staff who walked out on Thursday were joined by 78,000 yesterday.
Some 5,000 managers rolled up sleeves to help - and the Royal Mail said one in five staff had crossed picket lines.
The CWU plans three more days of strikes from next Thursday over pay, jobs and modernisation. It warned last night that strikes could last beyond Christmas and threatened legal action over the recruitment of 30,000 temps to handle backlogs.
Business Secretary Lord Mandelson yesterday said the heart of the dispute was about modernisation.
He denied claims he had provoked the CWU and admitted relations had broken down between parts of the union and the Royal Mail.
Bosses refuse to go to conciliation talks until strike threats are withdrawn.
