Strikes by postal workers in a bitter row over pay and jobs are to be escalated, it has been announced.
The Communication Workers Union (CWU) will on Wednesday unveil a fresh programme of industrial action following two nationwide walk-outs in recent weeks.
The union's executive met on Tuesday and said it had decided to escalate the level of strike action following the lack of progress during recent talks with the Royal Mail.
The union said in a statement: "As Royal Mail has made it clear they are unwilling to engage in meaningful negotiations. The postal executive will meet this evening and tomorrow morning to plan a programme of strike action.
"The dates announced tomorrow will be strategically selected in order to maximum disruption to all Royal Mail services."
A spokesman for the Royal Mail said: "We are disappointed that the CWU has again failed to understand the realities of the tough commercial market in which Royal Mail now operates and the damage that further strike action will do to the business, its people and customers.
"We are as ever ready to meet the union at any time to explain our position."
