Posted 30 October:
The Communications Workers Union and Royal Mail have resumed talks in an attempt to end the bitter postal dispute even as a second round of strikes continues, sources told the Press Association today.
The parties met last night and will hold more talks today to try to bridge their differences and prevent further industrial action, the sources said.
Neither side would confirm the negotiations, and a statement posted on the CWU website yesterday said only that the union was "seeking further talks".
Around 43,700 delivery network logistic drivers and garage staff staged a 24-hour stoppage yesterday after three days of negotiations ended with both parties blaming each other for the failure to reach an agreement.
Today, 400 workers who redirect badly-addressed post in Plymouth, Stockport and Stoke will walk out, with 77,000 delivery and collection staff taking action tomorrow.
The CWU's postal executive held back from naming more strike dates as attempts were made to get negotiations back on track.
But the union's leader, Billy Hayes, yesterday said there was "every prospect that we will increase the action and ... could be looking at longer strikes", raising fears of disruption in the run-up to Christmas.
The CWU is still considering whether to take legal action over Royal Mail's move to hire 30,000 agency workers to deal with the backlog of post caused by the strike as well as the Christmas rush.
Royal Mail accused the union of tabling fresh demands that had scuppered hopes of a deal before yesterday's walkout.
The CWU responded by accusing company bosses of breaking the confidentiality of the talks and being unwilling to go to Acas for mediation.
The CWU deputy general secretary, Dave Ward, said changes being planned by Royal Mail could lead to 60,000 jobs being lost and the remaining workforce being moved from full-time to part-time employment as well as "huge cuts" in services.
The Conservatives are backing the total privatisation of Royal Mail – a move that could further inflame the dispute.
