Gordon Brown may inetervene to settle strike dispute

Gordon Brown yesterday threatened to intervene in the post strike if both sides cannot agree.

It came as 130,000 postal staff began a second 48-hour stoppage, which ends tomorrow.

And they threatened to walk out again next Monday in the row over pay, pensions and job cuts.

The PM said: “I want these people back at work. This is a disruption to people’s lives.”

He added that the Government was investing “a huge amount in the postal services” and he could not condone the strike.

Last night hopes of a breakthrough were dashed when talks to resolve the dispute broke down without agreement.

Business leaders urged the Communication Workers Union to abandon their action. They said it was harming business and the economy.