Talks aim to resolve Royal Mail impasse

Royal Mail's chief executive Adam Crozier has called for common sense to prevail while the Communication Workers Union says it believes a deal can be struck.

Two days of nationwide industrial action last week created delivery mayhem, with millions of parcels and letters caught up in a backlog. Further strikes are planned from Thursday.

The strikes are part of a dispute over pay and jobs and the pace of modernisation at the state-owned company.

The two sides are due to hold talks on Monday brokered by the Trades Union Congress, which helped to resolve a dispute in 2007.

The Royal Mail said the move was "a sensible and positive way forward."

When asked on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show on Sunday if this week's three days of strikes would go ahead, Crozier said: "I very much hope not. I hope that people will see sense."

Billy Hayes, CWU general secretary, warned the talks could be difficult.

"If Royal Mail attend the talks and just simply reiterate their previous position, that won't help," he told BBC TV. "But if they come there genuinely seeking agreement, then I'm sure we can go forward."

He warned Prime Minister Gordon Brown that failure to reach agreement could damage Labour's election chances. His union has given 5 million pounds to the party since 2001.