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Postal union deal talks to resume Postal union deal talks to resume
(about 6 hours later)
Postal workers' union leaders are preparing to resume talks on whether to accept a deal to end nationwide strike action at the Royal Mail. Postal workers' union leaders are to resume talks on whether to accept a deal to end Royal Mail strikes.
The Communication Workers' Union (CWU) adjourned what it said had been "sombre" talks on Monday evening. The Communication Workers' Union (CWU) must decide whether to recommend the deal, aimed at resolving a long-running row over pay, jobs and pensions.
It must decide whether to recommend the deal, aimed at resolving a long-running row over pay, jobs and pensions The deal, to be discussed on Tuesday, is thought to give CWU members a 6.9% pay rise over 18 months.
The BBC has learned that under a deal outlined on Friday, CWU members will get a 6.9% pay rise over 18 months. A series of 48-hour stoppages and unofficial walkouts is estimated to have cost Royal Mail more than £200m.
Marathon talksMarathon talks
Leaders of the CWU will resume presenting the terms of the deal to the union's executive at their headquarters in Wimbledon, south-west London. Leaders of the CWU will resume presenting the terms of the deal to the union's executive at their headquarters in Wimbledon, south-west London on Tuesday.
The agreement was hammered out last week during marathon talks with Royal Mail's chief executive Adam Crozier.
DEAL POINTS 6.9% pay rise from 1 October 07 to 1 April 09Consultation on ending final salary pension schemeFlexible working to be trialled and agreed locallyDEAL POINTS 6.9% pay rise from 1 October 07 to 1 April 09Consultation on ending final salary pension schemeFlexible working to be trialled and agreed locally
But despite Friday's agreement, some wildcat action continued on Monday. The agreement was hammered out last week during marathon talks with Royal Mail's chief executive Adam Crozier.
Liverpool and parts of London are affected by the unofficial action, which is likely to add to the backlog of mail in these areas. But despite Friday's agreement, some wildcat action continued on Monday affecting Liverpool and parts of London.
According to the London Chamber of Commerce, the nationwide mail strikes have cost the city more than £300m.
And in a survey of more than 250 company heads, half of the respondents said the strike had cost their companies at least £1,000.
Flexible workingFlexible working
A ballot of 130,000 workers will be called if the CWU accepts the Royal Mail settlement.A ballot of 130,000 workers will be called if the CWU accepts the Royal Mail settlement.
Any ballot of Royal Mail workers would be by post, with each member getting one vote. A simple majority is needed to approve the deal, and the results would be declared one month later.
A simple majority would be required to approve the deal, and the results would be declared one month later. Neither side in the dispute, which began in June, has yet commented on the terms of an agreement.
We will deal with all mail in the order in which we received it, and will reinstate all service guarantees and promises as soon as we are able to honour them Royal Mail
Neither side in the dispute, which began in June, has yet commented on the terms of an agreement, and the full details are expected to be released after the meeting.
However, the BBC understands that the 6.9% pay rise over 18 months will consist of a 5.4% pay rise between 1 October 2007 and 1 April 2008, followed by a 1.5% pay rise from 1 April 2008 to 1 April 2009. Workers will also receive a lump sum payment of £175.However, the BBC understands that the 6.9% pay rise over 18 months will consist of a 5.4% pay rise between 1 October 2007 and 1 April 2008, followed by a 1.5% pay rise from 1 April 2008 to 1 April 2009. Workers will also receive a lump sum payment of £175.
In addition, the CWU has agreed to support consultation on ending the current final salary pension scheme.In addition, the CWU has agreed to support consultation on ending the current final salary pension scheme.
On the question of Royal Mail's modernisation plans - which include the introduction of more flexible working patterns - there is said to be no UK-wide agreement. Regarding Royal Mail's modernisation plans - including more flexible working patterns - there is said to be no UK-wide agreement.
Instead, the BBC has learned that there will be a number of trials and that changes will be agreed locally by unions and regional Royal Mail management. But the BBC has learned that there will be a range of trials and that changes will be agreed locally by unions and regional Royal Mail management.
The CWU has previously said that the Royal Mail's modernisation plans would cost 40,000 jobs.The CWU has previously said that the Royal Mail's modernisation plans would cost 40,000 jobs.
A series of 48-hour stoppages and unofficial walkouts has brought chaos to the postal network in recent weeks, left a huge backlog of undelivered mail, and is estimated to have cost the Royal Mail more than £200m.
And the London Chamber of Commerce said that four out of five company directors in the capital believed the series of strikes had impacted negatively on their business - with half those quizzed estimating the action had cost their firm at least £1,000.
Royal Mail said in a statement over the weekend: "We will deal with all mail in the order in which we received it, and will reinstate all service guarantees and promises as soon as we are able to honour them."