The Communication Workers Union (CWU) has announced that it has reached a deal with Royal Mail over pay and working conditions but the issue of pensions remains outstanding.
After days of strike action last year, a pay rise of 6.9% over three years has been negotiated.
The working week has been reduced by one hour to 39 hours and the agreement promises to maintain at least 75% of workers on full-time hours with no forced move of any worker from full to part time, or the reverse.
The agreement is 80 pages long, however, so postal workers will be scrutinising it thoroughly before they vote in the ballot on whether to accept it.