A deadline had originally been set for today for both sides to establish full agreement on the pace and change of modernisation at Royal Mail but this has now been postponed. Roger Poole who is chairing discussions said:

"Royal Mail and the CWU continue to make good progress in what are very complex and wide ranging negotiations concerning the whole Letters business."

"We will also soon be approaching the stage of negotiations where parties will need to report back and consult with their constituencies. Further negotiations will take place next week. Both parties are still committed to achieving an agreement which will enable Royal Mail and its employees to secure a better future for everybody in the organisation."

The result of a strike action ballot remains in force, meaning that strikes could resume if insufficient progress is made. The CWU is separately pressing the UK Government to take responsibility for the pension deficit which is expected to be approaching £10bn. Lord Mandelson has consistently ruled out the possibility of a bail-out unless it formed part of a partial-privatisation package and insisted that the deficit remained the responsibility of the Royal Mail.

Source: Hellmail