Postal strikes halted until the New Year

16:49 06 November 2009

Royal Mail workers have called off the strikes until January to allow a "period of calm" for them to negotiate further.

Officials assured that service would return to normal, add declared that Christmas deliveries would be "free of any disruption".

The disagreement over pay and modernisation between Royal Mail and the Communication Workers Union

With the help of mediators the Trade Union Council, strike action was brought to a standstill and both sides agreed to improve relations and establish "a radically different culture".

A new and improved reward and benefits package was also part of the deal.

Further talks will take place in December with the aim of finalising a deal by the end of 2010.

Although both sides are in agreement that job cuts are necessary, each disagrees over the extent of redundancies.

Royal Mail argues the changes are to counter the fall in business. The company says the number of letters and parcels which it delivers is falling by 10% each year, losing it £170m a year.

Although the government owns Royal Mail, it has so far refused to get involved with the pension issue.