More than a dozen Courier Country Post Office staff went out on strike on Tuesday in protest over pay and conditions.
They joined more than 3,000 colleagues across the country to air their concerns over proposals to franchise more than 70 Crown post offices. Of those earmarked for handover, five are in Perth, including the Crown Post Office on South Street.
Perth and Alloa post offices remained closed as staff refused to cross the picket line, while Dundee and Dunfermline were only able to offer a reduced service.
It was reported in Dundee that customers faced a 45-minute wait to be served during the early morning period.
Communication Workers Union (CWU) deputy area representative Tony Sneddon said between Dundee and Perth there were about 16 workers involved in the strike.
He took part in the walkout at the Meadowside post office in Dundee city centre. He said there had been 100% support for the strike by the workforce, with pickets stationed outside throughout the day.
“The public have been very supportive. A number of people have asked during the stoppages whether they should cross the picket line.
“People in Dundee recognise that they get a good service from the workers in the Post Office.”
Mr Sneddon said that after yesterday’s walkout the CWU was planning a two-week “pause for reflection”, during which it would invite management to talks on the dispute.
“We are quite willing to involve Acas (the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) in this,” he added.
Under the franchising plans, post offices would be taken on by a retailer, who would provide the postal services from within the new shop.
The move comes as the Post Office bids to address the losses made by many of the branches, with Perth said to have recorded a deficit of £96,000 over the past 12 months.
The proposals, coupled with a continuing dispute over pay and conditions counter staff have not had a pay rise since 2011 have already led staff to engage in two days of strike action.
The Post Office has stressed the Perth branch will not close and that no Post Office services would be lost under the franchising scheme.
There have been fears that the move will lead to a reduced level of service to the public, however.
The CWU has also highlighted instances where franchised post offices have closed soon after opening, sometimes leaving areas without access to postal services.