POSTAL workers are expected to deliver a vote today for the first national strike in seven years, as talks between the two sides to avert action failed to end the deadlock last night.

The Communication Workers Union and Royal Mail will resume talks today before the results of a ballot of the union’s 160,000 workers, which are expected after lunchtime.

The ballot result comes as the Trade and Industry Select Committee is believed to be preparing an inquiry into Royal Mail. The committee has been urged to mount an inquiry into its finances amid concerns that Allan Leighton, Royal Mail chairman, has painted too bleak a picture of them in order to cut jobs and make any turnaround in fortunes seem more dramatic.

The clash over pay between Royal Mail and the CWU comes after the postal group said that it had made a 14.5 per cent pay offer over 18 months dependent on performance targets. The union says the offer amounts to only 4.5 per cent upfront money with 3 per cent paid in October and 1.5 per cent next April.

Martin O’Neill, chairman of the select committee, has contacted Royal Mail about an inquiry and it is thought that one is likely to be held later next month or in November.