"Three more days of nationwide postal strikes are being planned by union leaders as the Government intensifies its efforts to get the parties to independent arbitration.

"As postal workers joined picket lines across the country yesterday, and with 78,000 to strike today, the Communication Workers Union served notice of further walkouts next Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

"Union leaders repeated their wish to bring in independent arbitrators to resolve the dispute with Royal Mail. The company is refusing to take the matter to Acas (the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) while the spectre of strike action remains."

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