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New post strike talks scheduled New post strike talks scheduled
(about 1 hour later)
Fresh talks aimed at resolving the postal workers strike are to be held in London on Monday, the TUC has said.Fresh talks aimed at resolving the postal workers strike are to be held in London on Monday, the TUC has said.
Work has begun to clear the backlog of letters and parcels. The Royal Mail says 30m items are delayed but union sources say the figure is close to 65m.Work has begun to clear the backlog of letters and parcels. The Royal Mail says 30m items are delayed but union sources say the figure is close to 65m.
Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said the talks would be an opportunity "to break the deadlock".Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said the talks would be an opportunity "to break the deadlock".
A further three strike days are planned from Thursday, in the dispute over pay, conditions and modernisation.A further three strike days are planned from Thursday, in the dispute over pay, conditions and modernisation.
Lord Mandelson described news of the upcoming talks - to be brokered by the TUC, the umbrella group representing the majority of trade unions in Britain - as a "welcome development".Lord Mandelson described news of the upcoming talks - to be brokered by the TUC, the umbrella group representing the majority of trade unions in Britain - as a "welcome development".
He said: "I hope both sides will take this chance to make progress."He said: "I hope both sides will take this chance to make progress."
STORY SO FAR... Postal workers, especially in London, have been holding intermittent one-day strikes for months in a row over the way Royal Mail is to be modernisedEarlier this month, postal workers voted three to one in favour of nationwide industrial action (though Royal Mail said 60% of the total number of postal workers in the UK did not vote to strike)The CWU set dates for the first nationwide postal strikes in two yearsLast-gasp talks failed to reach an agreement and indeed the split between the union and Royal Mail management became more acrimonious, with the CWU announcing further strike dates Origins of the Royal Mail strike Sorrow and anger on picket lineSTORY SO FAR... Postal workers, especially in London, have been holding intermittent one-day strikes for months in a row over the way Royal Mail is to be modernisedEarlier this month, postal workers voted three to one in favour of nationwide industrial action (though Royal Mail said 60% of the total number of postal workers in the UK did not vote to strike)The CWU set dates for the first nationwide postal strikes in two yearsLast-gasp talks failed to reach an agreement and indeed the split between the union and Royal Mail management became more acrimonious, with the CWU announcing further strike dates Origins of the Royal Mail strike Sorrow and anger on picket line
The BBC has learned both sides in the dispute came "tantalisingly close to a deal" late last Tuesday.The BBC has learned both sides in the dispute came "tantalisingly close to a deal" late last Tuesday.
The Communication Workers Union (CWU) said up to 120,000 workers "solidly supported" this week's action, which Royal Mail called "unnecessary".The Communication Workers Union (CWU) said up to 120,000 workers "solidly supported" this week's action, which Royal Mail called "unnecessary".
Royal Mail described the plans for three further walkouts on Thursday, Friday and Saturday as "appalling".Royal Mail described the plans for three further walkouts on Thursday, Friday and Saturday as "appalling".
Managing director Mark Higson urged the CWU to accept an agreement on the table on Tuesday.Managing director Mark Higson urged the CWU to accept an agreement on the table on Tuesday.
"Signing that agreement... will mean that next week's strikes will be unnecessary and, more than that, we will not have any more action this side of Christmas," Mr Higson said."Signing that agreement... will mean that next week's strikes will be unnecessary and, more than that, we will not have any more action this side of Christmas," Mr Higson said.
BBC business correspondent Joe Lynam said the negotiations in Windsor on Monday and Tuesday between a team from Royal Mail and trade unions resulted in an agreement on a form of words which would have led to the strikes being called off.BBC business correspondent Joe Lynam said the negotiations in Windsor on Monday and Tuesday between a team from Royal Mail and trade unions resulted in an agreement on a form of words which would have led to the strikes being called off.
He added the CWU had said a letter on Wednesday morning from Mr Higson scuppered any putative deal between the sides.He added the CWU had said a letter on Wednesday morning from Mr Higson scuppered any putative deal between the sides.
However, the union has described the suggestion that wording had been agreed as "total nonsense".However, the union has described the suggestion that wording had been agreed as "total nonsense".
HAVE YOUR SAY As a small online retailer, this has been devastating to our business, and I'm angry at both Royal Mail and its workers for failing to prevent thisJoe Richards, Southampton Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY As a small online retailer, this has been devastating to our business, and I'm angry at both Royal Mail and its workers for failing to prevent thisJoe Richards, Southampton Send us your comments
It told the BBC, "significant progress was made on issues which would have called off the strikes," in particular on local issues, but "the executive committee had not been asked to make a decision on any form of words which would have ended the dispute".It told the BBC, "significant progress was made on issues which would have called off the strikes," in particular on local issues, but "the executive committee had not been asked to make a decision on any form of words which would have ended the dispute".
About 78,000 delivery and collection workers walked out on Friday following Thursday's strike by mail centre staff.About 78,000 delivery and collection workers walked out on Friday following Thursday's strike by mail centre staff.
A Royal Mail spokesman, when asked whether the backlog would clear before the next strikes, said: "Our aim will be do do that. We will have to see how things go."A Royal Mail spokesman, when asked whether the backlog would clear before the next strikes, said: "Our aim will be do do that. We will have to see how things go."
Meanwhile the GMB union said it had started to receive calls to a hotline it has set up for members of the public to report employment agencies supplying staff to Royal Mail during strikes.Meanwhile the GMB union said it had started to receive calls to a hotline it has set up for members of the public to report employment agencies supplying staff to Royal Mail during strikes.
The unions have said the practice is illegal, but Royal Mail has denied its move to hire 30,000 agency workers to deal with the effects of the strike as well as the Christmas rush, broke the law.The unions have said the practice is illegal, but Royal Mail has denied its move to hire 30,000 agency workers to deal with the effects of the strike as well as the Christmas rush, broke the law.
If they go ahead, the strikes next week could involve:If they go ahead, the strikes next week could involve:
• Thursday - 43,700 staff in mail centres, delivery units in mail centres, network logistic drivers and garage staff walking out from 0400 GMT• Thursday - 43,700 staff in mail centres, delivery units in mail centres, network logistic drivers and garage staff walking out from 0400 GMT
• Friday - 400 workers at three sites in Plymouth, Stockport and Stoke, who assist mail centres by reading and entering mail addresses• Friday - 400 workers at three sites in Plymouth, Stockport and Stoke, who assist mail centres by reading and entering mail addresses
• Saturday - 77,000 delivery and collection staff across the UK.• Saturday - 77,000 delivery and collection staff across the UK.
Meanwhile, HM Revenue & Customs has said it will not extend the 31 October deadline for filing tax returns because of the postal strike, but added that any returns received late because of the strike would be unlikely to incur a fine.Meanwhile, HM Revenue & Customs has said it will not extend the 31 October deadline for filing tax returns because of the postal strike, but added that any returns received late because of the strike would be unlikely to incur a fine.
The public give their views on the Royal Mail strike action
Last year 2.4 million people sent returns by post.Last year 2.4 million people sent returns by post.
If people miss the postal deadline, they can still file online by 31 January.If people miss the postal deadline, they can still file online by 31 January.
Consumer groups such as Which? and Consumer Focus have also called on companies to be lenient with those who are late paying bills because of the postal strike.Consumer groups such as Which? and Consumer Focus have also called on companies to be lenient with those who are late paying bills because of the postal strike.
Mike Wildman, from Liverpool, who runs an internet mail order company told the BBC his sales were down 90% this week.Mike Wildman, from Liverpool, who runs an internet mail order company told the BBC his sales were down 90% this week.
"People are just not mail order shopping as they think they won't get their parcel," he said."People are just not mail order shopping as they think they won't get their parcel," he said.