The most bitter UK industrial dispute of the last year is on the verge of being settled as the union representing 112,000 frontline Royal Mail workers agrees to recommend the terms of a peace deal.

The company and Communication Workers Union (CWU) have been at each others’ throats for more than 11 months but agreed the outline of an agreement last weekend pending the approval of the union’s national executive.

The CWU said on Friday that it would recommend the membership support the plan in a forthcoming vote – with both sides claiming victories in certain areas.

The dispute covers three broad areas: pay, jobs and working conditions.

Loss-making Royal Mail had previously warned that without an agreement, staff would have been risking their jobs.

The agreement includes later starting times for deliveries which, Royal Mail said, would respond to greater demand for more next-day parcels, reduce its impact on the environment through the removal of 18 flights a day, improve quality of service and create greater capacity to grow.

New seasonal working patterns and regular Sunday working were also agreed.

On pay, the staff will get a 10% rise over three years – some of which has already been paid – and a one-off lump sum of £500.

The union had initially demanded an annual increase in line with the rate of inflation.

For its part, the CWU said it was delighted that, what it called the “Uberisation” of Royal Mail was to be abandoned.

It was particularly unhappy over the introduction of owner-drivers into the Royal Mail.

A union spokesperson said of the settlement: “This situation has been arrived at only because of the sheer determination of every postal worker in this country who stood up for themselves, their jobs and their industry.

“We intend to put this deal to our members’ vote as soon as possible.”

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