Negotiations aimed at ending Britain's postal dispute ended without any agreement last night, and further strikes were announced.
Officials from the Communication Workers Union (CWU) and Royal Mail managers met for eight days to try to reach a deal in a long-running row over pay, jobs and pensions.
Communication Workers Union spokesman
The union has announced further industrial action with a series of 24 hour strikes by different departments starting next Monday.
The rolling action is designed to disrupt services while ensuring workers lose only one day's pay.
The union said there had been "real progress" in many areas but that none had led to an agreement. "The offer includes a pay increase of 6.9 per cent over two years, but this is subject to linking unacceptable strings including a reduction in pension benefits," a spokesman said.
"Royal Mail's proposals also include flexibility proposals that mean, among other things, that postal workers will not know what job they are doing from one day to the next," he added.
The Royal Mail said it was "hugely disappointed and extremely concerned" that the talks had not resolved the dispute.
PA