Last-ditch talks to prevent postal strikes
Royal Mail and union bosses to hold last-minute talks
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By Darren Estwick. |  |
Monday, 19, Oct 2009 11:17
By Richard James.
Royal Mail and union bosses are set to hold last-minute talks today aimed at avoiding strike action by postal workers later this week.
Industrial action is currently set to begin on Thursday with mail centre staff and network drivers around the country walking out.
The following day delivery and collection workers will also take strike action.
Today's talks will aim to resolve the differences over working conditions and plans to modernise Royal Mail.
The firm drew severe criticism during the weekend after announcing plans to recruit 30,000 temporary members of staff to deal with the strike action.
The Communications Workers Union (CWU) accused Royal Mail of being more interested in "sidelining" the views of staff instead of resolving the ongoing dispute.
Meanwhile, according to the Guardian, Britain's largest private mail operator TNT is lobbying the government to be allowed to put its own postmen on the streets.
"If anyone can do it [offer a rival service], TNT can," Nick Wells, chief executive of TNT Mail UK told the newspaper.
"There are going to be operational challenges, we would be ridiculously naive to think otherwise. It's a massive challenge on a huge scale but the reality is we have the customers, appetite and resources."
Royal Mail has continued to urge union bosses to call off the strikes.
Chief executive Adam Crozier said earlier: "We are continuing to urge the union to halt its appalling and unjustified attack on customers.
"At the same time, we are absolutely determined to do everything we can to minimise delays to customers' mail, especially in the run-up to Christmas."