(Alliance News) - Royal Mail PLC on Tuesday said it has written to the Communication Workers Union with an offer to enter into discussions without preconditions.
The postal operator said it will enter the talks "if the union provides a binding commitment to remove the threat of strike action over the Christmas period".
The company said it is hopeful the CWU agrees, and reiterated that the recent ballot result for industrial action does not necessarily mean that strikes will take place.
Earlier in October, 97% of Royal Mail workers who are part of the CWU backed industrial action.
Ricky McAulay, Royal Mail national service delivery director, said: "If the CWU agrees to rule out industrial action for the remainder of the calendar year – a critical time for our customers, we will commit to holding open discussions with no preconditions aimed at resolving the dispute."
In response, the CWU called Royal Mail's press lease a "total sham".
"They refused to meet all last week and only offered a 4 hour slot this week. Their letter referred to in their press release was emailed late yesterday after 1700 GMT and was the subject of a press release before we met today," the CWU said.
By Lucy Heming; lucyheming@alliancenews.com
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