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Leaders of 130,000 postal workers could today call fresh industrial action at the Royal Mail to follow 24-hour strikes on Friday and next Monday.

The postal executive of the Communication Workers' Union is expected to opt for further walkouts on Fridays and Mondays. A meeting of 400 local representatives of the union was split yesterday on whether to press ahead with more disruption or call a ballot on the latest peace offer from management. Those who advocated a referendum, however, wanted a "vote no" recommendation from the leadership. The Government has threatened to suspend the Post Office's letters monopoly for three months if the industrial action goes ahead at the weekend.

In the rail dispute, the RMT transport union yesterday reached agreement with two more train operators - Gatwick Express and South Wales and West. Of the original 22 firms in dispute, 11 have now struck deals.