Backlog grows amid postal strikes

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

The Royal Mail said 25% of its delivery staff turned up for work despite the action but the figure was disputed by the Communication Workers Union.

Officials maintained there was solid support from its 77,000 members involved in the walkout and said the public was continuing to back the workers.

Thousands of workers braved pouring rain to mount picket lines outside mail centres across the country on the third successive day of strikes in the bitter row over jobs, pay and modernisation.

The Union has announced a third wave of 24 hour national stoppages next Friday, November 6 and the following Monday, November 9 involving all its 121,000 postal members although frantic efforts were continuing this weekend to try to find a peace deal.

Negotiators from the Union and the company were considering a series of proposals drawn up during marathon talks last week chaired by TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber.

The two sides are due to resume negotiations on Monday and planned to make no comment this weekend on the prospects of finding an agreement.

Billy Hayes, the Union's General Secretary said: "It is not necessary for this strike to take place and the Union remains focused on reaching an agreement."

But Royal Mail Managing Director Mark Higson condemned the Union for calling more strikes warning it would "distract" effort towards making an agreement.

The Royal Mail said on Friday night that the current wave of strikes had led to a backlog of 35 million items of post but the Union said that figure had increased to well over 100 million. The company insisted that some mail was delivered on Saturday.