A former postal workers’ union official turned businessman has condemned the planned national postal strike due to start on Thursday as a “throwback to the 1960s”.

Bernard Kearns, who was a postal worker for 20 years and union official, wants the strikes to be averted as his cobblers shop in Queensbury which he has run for 12 years relies increasingly on internet sales delivered by post.

Mr Kearns, who for ten years was a Labour councillor for Odsal, said: “I have a great deal of sympathy and understanding of the issues involved with this dispute. However, strike action of this nature is so 1960s and damaging to the recovery of the economy.”

Mr Kearns, who was a postman and postal driver during his time at Royal Mail, said many of the disputed issues over working practices were around in the 1980s.

He said: “The current dispute is about modernisation and some of this was going on when I was there. “Postal workers’ jobs have been changed by new technology such as new sorting systems and optical scanning equipment that can recognise post codes.

“The dispute could be sorted out with negotiations and not with the old-style strike and confrontation mentality.”

Mr Kearns said a prolonged strike would make it more likely that Royal Mail would be privatised after the next general election, especially if the Conservative Party wins.

Strikes would pose a threat to his business, Queensbury Village Cobblers, whose internet sales have grown significantly in the past year.

He said: “My business has seen a significant growth in internet sales over the last 12 months.

“So much so that I have taken on a member of staff to cope with the extra packing and my spending with Royal Mail has risen from around £4,000 per year to around £10,000.

“On the strength of this growth I have invested heavily in expanding the internet side of the business, with work being carried out now on re-writing and designing a new website.

“All this could be put in serious jeopardy through this strike, which could be avoided.”

The cobbler’s business takes in shoe repair orders from as far away as London and also sends shoelaces and insoles to customers across the world, including Australia and the United States.

If the strike goes ahead it will start with mail centre staff and drivers followed by delivery and collection staff on Friday.

Customers should check royal mail.com or call 08457 740740 for the latest information.