UK postal union extends strike suspension until Sunday for further talks

A UK postal union has agreed to extend a suspension of planned strikes for a further five days to resolve a pay row with Royal Mail.

The Communication Workers Union, which suspended planned industrial action on Aug 10 until today after agreeing to enter a new round of talks with Royal Mail, said the two sides would extend their negotiations until Sun Sept 9 ‘to resolve all issues in dispute’.

Union members have already held two 24-hour strikes and a week of rolling walkouts in the row about Royal Mail’s 2.5 pct pay offer and planned job cuts.

The mail operator says increased automation is necessary to deal with ‘the harsh commercial reality’ of the market.