Postal workers across Britain intend to strike Friday, which likely would disrupt mail service across the country, officials said.

About 12,000 employees are expected to walk out, organized by the Communication Workers Union to protest job cuts and workloads, The Times of London reported Tuesday.

The union warned the walkout could become a national strike and said the Royal Mail is upset because government officials shelved plans to partially privatize the delivery service.

"There are serious and growing problems in the postal sector which urgently need resolving," said Dave Ward, the union's deputy general secretary. "We have renewed our offer of a three-month, no-strike deal to Royal Mail in return for meaningful talks over modernization."

Workforce cuts and workload increases can't continue, Ward said.

"Pressure and stress is at breaking point for postal workers so we urgently need a fresh start for a modern Royal Mail," he said.