The union’s current ballot mandate expires on 17 February, which is why the 24-hour strike had been scheduled to run from 12.30pm on Thursday 16 February. 

In a message to all members, the CWU said that, despite advice from its own lawyers that the union could defend its position in court, the CWU’s Postal Executive had decided the potential risk to the current re-ballot required a change of plan. 

“The ongoing ballot is the most important vote of your working lives. If we are able to deliver a massive yes vote and turnout, then we will go on to win this dispute – this has to be our absolute focus,” said the statement from general secretary Dave Ward and acting deputy general secretary (postal) Andy Furey. 

Ward and Furey also said they would be re-entering negotiations with Royal Mail Group this week, but warned “if talks fail we will significantly step up the programme of strike action”.

In response, Royal Mail said the CWU had been forced to cancel the planned strike “after making another legal error” in the strike notification. 

A Royal Mail spokesperson commented: “We welcome the fact that the strike action has been called off. It will be a relief to our customers and we intend to use this time and space for further discussions to try to agree a deal.”

It has also informed the union that it will place the new issues raised and Royal Mail’s best and final offer into the mutually-agreed Dispute Resolution Process.

Royal Mail believes the 18 days of strike action that took place last year will cost the business around £200m. 

Simon Thompson, CEO of Royal Mail parent International Distributions Services, will be questioned again by MPs on the Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy Committee on 22 February. 

He was recalled after MPs received evidence that cast doubt on some of the statements Thompson made at a hearing last month. 

The committee said it wanted clarity on the following matters: whether Postal Digital Assistants are used to urge staff to work faster; whether Royal Mail is compromising its obligation to provide a minimum guaranteed mail service to all addresses and is prioritising parcels; and Royal Mail’s position on sick pay for employees.

IDS chairman Keith Williams will also appear at the session. 

Separately, Royal Mail continues to wrangle with the impact of the apparent ransomware incident that hit its international export business almost a month ago. 

In an update today (7 February), the group said: “We continue to make progress in exporting an increasing number of items to a growing number of international destinations, using alternative solutions and systems, not affected by the recent cyber incident.  

“As a result of this progress and the continuing growth in the capability of our alternative export solutions, we have some further restoration of services.”

It has resumed three core non-personal correspondence International Standard (untracked) services to all destinations for business contract customers.

Work continues around the clock to reinstate the remaining export services.