Leaders of Britain's 145,000 postal workers are meeting to decide whether to call a series of strikes as part of a campaign to win a five per cent pay rise.

Postal group Consignia, currently losing £1 million a day and poised to announce sweeping job losses, has warned that a strike would be "catastrophic" as rival firms line up to take more of its business.

Forum Response: Communication Workers Union

A spokesman for the Communication Workers Union told ePolitix.com: "The meeting will receive a report of the latest talks with Royal Mail and access the worth of continuing those discussions. It will also decide what action it considers appropriate. All current media 'reports' are entirely speculation.

"There have been no decisions, or indications from the union. Action could be anything from a work to rule to a national strike. Although there is a possibility of a decision on Tuesday, Wednesday is a more likely day for an announcement. It is impossible to be definitive at the moment."