The Postal Union has announced two more nationwide 48-hour strikes on 5th and 8th of October and are threatening further action if agreement is not reached on modernisation and improved pay.

Royal Mail workers have already turned down a 2.5% pay offer and claim as many as 40,000 jobs could be at risk if radical plans to update sorting and distribution are introduced.

After five weeks of discussion there has been no reconciliation with Royal Mail claiming that changes are essential if they are to be able to compete with other more modern organisations in the open mail market.

Business bosses will need to start planning ahead to ensure their priority mail is sent through courier or other private postal companies on these dates.