No Christmas postal strike as last-minute deal averts festive chaos

THE postal dispute was all but over last night as a truce was called hours before the latest walkout was due to start.
Strikes planned for today and Monday were called off and no further industrial action is planned, lifting the threat of disruption to the Christmas post.
Previous walkouts over the past fortnight had brought chaos to the postal system and left millions of letters and parcels undelivered.
But the Communication Workers Union last night announced an interim deal on controversial modernisation plans had been agreed with Royal Mail following days of intense negotiations.
CWU deputy general secretary Dave Ward said: "We can now have a period of calm where we can take forward modernisation in a way that puts the union at the centre of what needs to be addressed.
"Our members will now know we can deal with modernisation in a way that gives them improved job security and improved terms and conditions."
Royal Mail managing director Mark Higson said a "sensible agreement" had been reached which would benefit the millions of customers who rely on the postal service.
Business Secretary Lord Mandelson welcomed the news, saying he hoped all the "wrinkles" in the modernisation process could be solved by negotiation.
He added: "These strikes have done nothing to help Royal Mail."
Robert Hammond, of Consumer Focus, called the interim deal "a victory for common sense".
He said: "Those anxious about sending Christmas presents will sleep a little easier tonight."
However, it was clear the two sides were still at loggerheads over Royal Mail's £10billion pension deficit.
Dave Ward called on the Government to intervene but Higson accused the union of walking away from a full deal by fighting plans to part-privatise the company.
TUC general secretary Brendan Barber, who had overseen the negotiations, said the agreement was "an important step forward".
But he added: "It is a long way from the end of the road.
"Over the next period, an immense amount of hard work is going to be needed in Royal Mail and the CWU to hammer out the final agreement on the way forward in a company facing a period of dramatic change."
The union also decided to put on hold legal action against Royal Mail over the recruitment of agency workers.
The case was expected to reach the High Court in London today.
Industry sources said Royal Mail had not recruited close to the 30,000 staff they planned to take on to deal with the backlog of post and the Christmas rush.