Postal workers in Merseyside walked out on a wildcat strike on Wednesday after a manager allegedly made a racist comment to a Muslim employee.

The female manager is said to have asked the worker “do you like women?” after giving him work instructions. This remark was, understandably, badly received as it refers to negative stereotypes about Muslim men. According to the local newspaper Liverpool Echo, the abused worker was said to be “very upset” by the incident and had gone home on compassionate leave.

The strike, which entered its second day today, saw around 50 workers setting up a picket line outside the Royal Mail site on Trinity Industrial Estate, refusing to return to work while the manager was on the same shift.

The management and striking workers held meetings, but so far the dispute remains unsolved and the Royal Mail staff is expected to continue their strike. The workers are supported by the Communication Workers Union, while Royal Mail bosses slammed the strike, describing it as “unballoted”.

The unofficial action in Merseyside comes while the CWU members across the country vote on whether to strike over Royal Mail plans to attack their conditions and slash jobs.