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| Crucial post strike talks resume | |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Talks between Royal Mail and union have resumed after 12 hours of discussions on Monday failed to avert planned nationwide strikes. | |
| Union sources say there is no sign yet of a breakthrough ahead of the first of two 24 hour walk-outs on Thursday. | |
| Royal Mail says it is willing to go to conciliation service Acas but only if postal staff call off their strike. | Royal Mail says it is willing to go to conciliation service Acas but only if postal staff call off their strike. |
| Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defence may lay on extra aircraft to ensure troops in the field get their Christmas post. | Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defence may lay on extra aircraft to ensure troops in the field get their Christmas post. |
| The BBC has learned additional aircraft could be provided to move mail between Britain and Afghanistan and within the UK should the row not be resolved. | The BBC has learned additional aircraft could be provided to move mail between Britain and Afghanistan and within the UK should the row not be resolved. |
| Royal Mail is in dispute with the Communication Workers Union (CWU) over pay, conditions and modernisation plans. | Royal Mail is in dispute with the Communication Workers Union (CWU) over pay, conditions and modernisation plans. |
| The company said it was trying hard to reach agreement. | The company said it was trying hard to reach agreement. |
| EXPECTED STRIKE DISRUPTION 22 October: Limited processing, movement and collection of mail 23 October: Limited delivery and collection of mail Some managerial staff and contract drivers will be brought in to move mail but services will be "very limited" Special Delivery and Royal Mail Tracked items will still be delivered on strike days Post Office branches will be open as usual although collections will be affected Parcelforce will operate as normal as it has its own collection, distribution and delivery network Customers should check the Royal Mail website or call 08457 740 740 for the latest service information Source: Royal Mail Q&A: Royal Mail dispute | EXPECTED STRIKE DISRUPTION 22 October: Limited processing, movement and collection of mail 23 October: Limited delivery and collection of mail Some managerial staff and contract drivers will be brought in to move mail but services will be "very limited" Special Delivery and Royal Mail Tracked items will still be delivered on strike days Post Office branches will be open as usual although collections will be affected Parcelforce will operate as normal as it has its own collection, distribution and delivery network Customers should check the Royal Mail website or call 08457 740 740 for the latest service information Source: Royal Mail Q&A: Royal Mail dispute |
| Sources in the CWU described Monday's talks in Windsor, Berkshire, as a positive sign but added there was no sign of a settlement at this stage. | Sources in the CWU described Monday's talks in Windsor, Berkshire, as a positive sign but added there was no sign of a settlement at this stage. |
| Its call for independent mediation has been backed by almost 100 MPs as well as the Business Secretary Peter Mandelson. | Its call for independent mediation has been backed by almost 100 MPs as well as the Business Secretary Peter Mandelson. |
| Acas has appointed a trouble-shooter who is on stand-by to step in and facilitate peace talks in the event of a breakthrough. | Acas has appointed a trouble-shooter who is on stand-by to step in and facilitate peace talks in the event of a breakthrough. |
| But BBC correspondent Martin Shankleman said Royal Mail's insistence that it would go to Acas only if the union called off its strikes was a stumbling block. | But BBC correspondent Martin Shankleman said Royal Mail's insistence that it would go to Acas only if the union called off its strikes was a stumbling block. |
| The talks between the two sides came after CWU general secretary Billy Hayes described Royal Mail's decision to hire up to 30,000 temporary workers to help deal with the effects of strike action as "a stupid move" that could inflame the dispute. | The talks between the two sides came after CWU general secretary Billy Hayes described Royal Mail's decision to hire up to 30,000 temporary workers to help deal with the effects of strike action as "a stupid move" that could inflame the dispute. |
| Royal Mail will be hiring double the 15,000 temporary staff it usually takes on before Christmas. | Royal Mail will be hiring double the 15,000 temporary staff it usually takes on before Christmas. |
| Management said the extra workers would cut the impact of "unjustified and irresponsible" industrial action. | Management said the extra workers would cut the impact of "unjustified and irresponsible" industrial action. |
| The extra workers will deal with the backlog caused by the strikes as well as helping with the Christmas rush. | The extra workers will deal with the backlog caused by the strikes as well as helping with the Christmas rush. |
| Employing extra people to do the work of staff who are on strike is illegal under employment law. | Employing extra people to do the work of staff who are on strike is illegal under employment law. |
| Royal Mail said the recruitment drive was not about bringing in workers to do the work of striking staff, but to ensure there were enough staff to clear any backlogs between walkouts, as well as tackle the seasonal increase in mail volume. | Royal Mail said the recruitment drive was not about bringing in workers to do the work of striking staff, but to ensure there were enough staff to clear any backlogs between walkouts, as well as tackle the seasonal increase in mail volume. |
| On Thursday, mail centre staff and drivers are planning to strike. The next day it will be delivery and collection staff. | On Thursday, mail centre staff and drivers are planning to strike. The next day it will be delivery and collection staff. |