NEW talks aimed at resolving the strike at An Post involving the Civil and Public Services Union are to be held this morning.
A return to work formula is understood to include Pounds 100 for each of the strikers and an increase in promotional outlets for them.
Meanwhile, the CPSU has escalated its action by placing pickets on the Dublin Mail Centre and SDS parcel delivery service on the Naas Road.
When the strike began last Friday pickets were restricted to the GPO and College House Savings Bank in College Green, where most of the CPSU members are based.
The dispute began as a work to rule on April 17th over An Post's decision to recruit a secretary for one of its managers externally.
Traditionally, the post has been a promotional outlet for CPSU clerical staff.
The extension of the pickets are expected to have little immediate effect on An Post's operations. But a prolonged dispute could affect An Post's various savings schemes.
However, the company has said that, as in previous disputes, interest on any amounts lodged with it will be credited from the date of customers' lodgement receipts.
Last week, union members rejected settlement terms by a margin of four to one, even though they were recommended by their own union.