Royal Mail walkout is cancelled

Strike action by postal workers has been called off for the second week in a row.

Royal Mail delivery staff at 11 offices were set to walk out for 48 hours tomorrow and Thursday in a dispute over the firm using part-time workers for full-time positions.

However, the Communication Workers Union (CWU) has cancelled the action after a resolution was reached following national talks last week.

It comes after another 48-hour strike was called off on January 19 and 20.

Malcolm Brundrett, regional delivery representative for the CWU, said: “On the basis we have called off the two days for this week, that more or less stops the dispute.”

The row has raged for more than a month and hit pre-Christmas deliveries when more than 700 staff from 11 offices walked out on December 9, 16 and 18.

They included employees from offices in Biddulph, Burslem, Cheadle, Kidsgrove, Leek, Longton, Stoke, Stafford, Stockton Brook, Uttoxeter and Werrington.

Last week’s two-day strike was averted at the 11th hour and the dispute was expected to be brought to an end at final talks yesterday.

However, progress was held up when the meeting had to be postponed due to illness.

The CWU’s national postal executive will now consider whether to ratify the resolution tomorrow.

Royal Mail confirmed an agreement had been struck with the CWU, but declined to reveal any details.

External relations manager Jane Thomas said: “We have reached agreement with the CWU on a way forward on resourcing issues central to the dispute.”