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A second postal strike threatens to further damage small businesses in the UK.

Last Friday (June 29th), a 24-hour strike by the Royal Mail - which concerns pay and possible job cuts - hit firms hard.

Now it has emerged that a second day-long strike could take place next Thursday, if Royal Mail management does not offer the Communication Workers Union (CWU) something "meaningful" to avert it.

Union leaders are meeting today (July 5th) to okay the walkout, which could involve up to 130,000 postal staff up and down the country.

Royal Mail chief executive Adam Crozier said a pay rise of more than 2.5 per cent was not affordable, but the CWU is looking for around twice that amount, the Daily Mirror reports.

Any strike will affect small firms especially badly, as they often rely heavily on the Royal Mail.

"A cheque delayed in the post can mean the difference between life and death for a small business," a Federation of Small Businesses spokesman told the BBC.