A DECISION on whether to press ahead with a fresh wave of postal strikes was due to be taken by union leaders today.

The postal executive of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) was expected to meet to discuss any progress made during talks with the Royal Mail aimed at breaking a deadlocked row over jobs, pay and modernisation.

The two sides have been locked in negotiations for the past two days after agreeing to meet under the chairmanship of Brendan Barber, TUC general secretary .

The union's postal executive was briefed by CWU negotiators yesterday.

Up to 120,000 CWU members staged two 24-hour walkouts last week, which delayed more than 30 million items of mail.

A similar number of workers are due to strike tomorrow, Friday and Saturday, threatening fresh disruption to deliveries.

The union has said that 43,700 staff in mail centres as well as drivers and garage staff will strike tomorrow, 150 workers in Stoke-on-Trent, plus 250 in Plymouth and Stockport, dealing with badly-addressed mail are due to walk out on Friday, and 77,000 delivery and collection staff are expected to strike on Saturday.