EIGHT HUNDRED postal staff in Liverpool have voted to continue their unofficial strike, despite the High Court blocking plans for fresh action next week.

The Communication Workers Union said 800 postal staff had voted unanimously to stay out of work in their unofficial strike.

Speaking outside the meeting at Aintree racecourse, CWU official Mark Walsh said: “The result is a resounding no vote to return to work from our members.

“It is something I have to say in 20 years of being involved in the trade union I have never seen anything like it in my life. There was not a hand from any man or woman in the room to return to work.

“I hope it does not come to legal action.”

Nationally, hopes of an end to the bitter postal worker’s dispute rose tonight after progress was made during marathon peace talks.

Leaders of the Communication Worker’s Union met throughout the day with Royal Mail Chief Executive Adam Crozier to try to break the deadlocked row about pay, jobs and pensions.

The talks continued even though Royal Mail obtained a court injunction preventing the Union going ahead with a planned national strike on Monday and Tuesday.

Sources close to the talks said that “real progress had been made” and it was possible that a joint statement will be released on behalf of two sides.

The unions’ executive is expected to meet on Monday to discuss the dispute and consider whether enough progress has been made to call off industrial action.

Mail deliveries were badly hit again today because of the industrial action and business groups started to warn that firms were experiencing huge problems because of the lack of mail deliveries.

The Royal Mail took legal action in the High Court to prevent strikes going ahead next Monday and Tuesday and said it was trying to ensure that the huge backlog of mail caused by a series of strikes in the last week was cleared.

The two sides were still meeting tonight but there were signs that an end to the long-running row could be in sight.

The Royal Mail and the CWU said in a brief joint statement tonight: “The agreed terms covering all the issues in the dispute will be considered by the union’s

executive on Monday.

“Both parties will make a further statement thereafter”.

The union earlier claimed that Royal Mail was planning to hire 1,000 casual staff at a site in London as part of its efforts to deliver mail.

It said it believed the move could be illegal because firms are not allowed to hire agency workers to take the place of staff taking industrial action.

But the Royal Mail claimed that only six managers had been recruited to the site in north London, although it admitted recruitment of other workers was under

way.

A spokesman said the move was aimed at helping deliver the backlog of mail after the strike is over.

Shadow business secretary Alan Duncan said the Royal Mail had every right to take legal action.

“The actions of the trade unions are becoming increasingly irresponsible and are destroying the postal service and the futures of those who work for it.”

The British Chambers of Commerce said the postal strike was now “completely out of hand”.

Natalie Evans, the group’s head of policy, said the walkouts were harming industry and making it impossible for businesses to go about their work.

“Over the past week, we have been getting countless reports of small firms incurring great costs as they seek alternative options to Royal Mail.

“A lengthy legal battle is only likely to make matters worse, hitting the national economy and doing irreparable damage to the reputation of Royal Mail.”

A Royal Mail spokesman said: “In the interests of customers, we have to do all we reasonably can to get the mail delivered.”