Workers in hundreds of Crown Post Offices are to stage two fresh strikes in a long-running row over closures, jobs and pay.

Members of the Communication Workers Union in hundreds of branches including across Scotland will walk out for half a day on Thursday, June 20 and all day on Saturday, June 29.

The union has held five strikes since Easter in protest at plans to close or franchise 76 of the Crown offices – the larger branches usually sited on high streets.

Talks between the two sides have failed to break the deadlock, and the union called for senior Post Office executives to get involved in attempts to reach a deal.

CWU officials said they believed the Post Office is preparing to announce a £94 million profit, "smashing" its target by £10m, which the union predicted will mean large bonuses for senior executives.

Dave Ward, CWU deputy general secretary, said: "This dispute can't be resolved while the chief executive Paula Vennells remains aloof and absent from talks.

"We've had informal talks this week which allowed a good exchange of views and discussion on various options, but there's no change, no new offers and no movement from the Post Office."

The Post Office has said that the Crown network was losing millions of pounds a year and has stressed that only a few would close under the proposals, with most of the 76 being franchised to other companies.