Royal Mail has settled its long-running dispute with members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU).

A joint statement issued today said: “We are pleased to announce that the negotiators have finalised the details of a proposed agreement covering the matters under discussion which include pensions, pay, the shorter working week, culture and operational changes.

“The proposed agreement will now be considered by the CWU’s postal executive committee next week. A further announcement with the details of the final agreement will be made in due course.”

The deal is subject to CWU member approval and ratification by the Royal Mail board.

The CWU was forced to take part in mediation with Royal Mail after it lost a High Court battle over the legality of its industrial action ballot. Workers had voted to strike over the row, and a 48-hour walkout scheduled for 19 October 2017.

However the High Court found in favour of Royal Mail, which claimed the planned action went against an Agenda for Growth both parties had signed in 2013.

The agenda stipulated that industrial action was only allowed after five weeks of mediation, but the CWU balloted members after just four.

This led to more talks and day's outcome.

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