Hoping for a breakthrough

Nov 2 2009 by Karen McLauchlan, Evening Gazette

TALKS aimed at resolving the long-running post dispute are set to resume today with fresh strikes threatened unless there is a breakthrough in the next few days.

Leaders of the Communication Workers’ Union and bosses from Royal Mail spent the weekend considering a series of proposals drawn up during marathon talks last week chaired by TUC general secretary Brendan Barber.

The backlog of mail caused by three days of strikes last week - which involved Teesside workers on Thursday and Saturday - is estimated to have grown to between 50 and 60 million. The union has announced that two further 24-hour national walkouts will be held on Friday and a week today involving all its 121,000 postal members unless there is a deal in the next few days.