New deal may end British postal dispute

LONDON, Oct. 13 (UPI) -- The British postal service may soon overcome a contentious employee labor dispute thanks to a deal reached by the Royal Mail and union officials this week.

The Times of London reported Saturday Royal Mail officials reached a deal with Communication Workers Union officials that could represent an end to the contract dispute that included intermittent work stoppages with threats of more strikes next week.

"The agreed terms covering all the issues in the dispute will be considered by the union’s executive on Monday," a joint statement from the two sides said. "Both parties will make a further statement thereafter."

Friday's deal came as Royal Mail officials were granted an injunction by the British High Court that would block postal worker strikes from occurring throughout the country.

The Times reported the new deal includes a 6.9 percent pay increase for postal workers, an apparent middle-ground number between the 27 percent increase the union demanded and the 2.5 percent increase the Royal Mail offered in March.