26 October 2009 - Steve Lawson - © Hellmail Postal News

Royal Mail and the Communication Workers Union are to resume talks today aimed at bringing an end to a series of national postal strikes. The talks are to be assisted by the head of the Trades Union Congess, Brendan Barber.

A further three days of strike action are expected to begin on Thursday. Estimated figures for backlogged mail vary, with Royal Mail suggesting 30m items, and the CWU saying it is closer to 65m.

Adam Crozier, chief executive for Royal Mail suggested that there was much misinformation surrounding the dispute and that it was important to get down to serious talks. He said there was a future for the postal service but that it would be on a reduced scale with letters declining by as much as 40% over the next three years.

However, with Royal Mail determined to see the company change in response to a decline in mail volume, and CWU leader Billy Hayes saying the the union would only accept change by agreement, discussions could run into several days before a deal is signed.

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