Royal Mail's entire London-based workforce went on strike today, a key postal workers union claimed, as management and representatives continue talks over pay and conditions to avert a nationwide walk-out.

In the 16th successive week of one-day strikes, the Communication Workers Union (CWU) said 100 per cent of Royal Mail's staff in the capital took part in the walk-out.

Royal Mail has brought in extra managers to help deliver essential mail such as registered deliveries, but the union said that there was no way it could replace all 12,000 workers.

A Royal Mail spokeswoman confirmed that the London strike had taken place but said that it had nothing further to add to yesterday's statement that the union's "peace offer", made yesterday, had raised "a series of fresh demands".

The CWU's offer contained a promise to "reach a three-year agreement" alongside a demand for stronger job security guarantees and an improved benefits package for postal workers, plus a guarantee that staffing levels would not be affected by budget deficits.

Royal Mail has been asked to reveal its business plan and to promise to introduce change only by agreement, and to allow the union to define what constitutes a fair day's workload.

Representatives of the CWU are meeting with Royal Mail management today and Thursday in a last ditch attempt to avoid a national strike. Unless a compromise is reached, the CWU is expected to give a week's formal notice of its strike plans tomorrow, meaning that industrial action could commence on or after October 22.

Neither side showed any sign of moving from their positions today following Royal Mail's rejection of the union's "peace offer" late yesterday, despite an Early Day Motion signed by 64 MPs put before Parliament today calling for the Royal Mail to take up the offer.

Sian Jones, a spokeswoman for the CWU, said: "We are hoping that they will take it up but given their very strongly worded statement late yesterday that doesn't give us much promise."

Money Central: Five ways to beat the postal strike

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