Talks to avert postal strike

Crucial talks aimed at averting a national strike by postal workers were being held today.

Leaders of the Communication Workers Union were meeting Royal Mail managers under the auspices of the conciliation service Acas in a bid to resolve a dispute over pay.

The union is due to start balloting 140,000 postmen and women from tomorrow as part of a campaign to win a 5% pay rise.

Postal group Consignia has offered 2%, with the

chance of a further 0.5% if quality of service targets are met.

Consignia said further negotiation and the use of mediation were the "sensible approach" to settling the row.

The organisation made a loss of £281 million in the first half of the current financial year, so there was no spare cash for "extravagant" pay awards.

The union's deputy general secretary, John Keggie, said take-home pay for most postal workers was less than £150 a week, which he described as "disgraceful".

The ballot result is due early next month.

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