Postal workers' union leaders are meeting to decide whether to accept a deal to end nationwide strike action at the Royal Mail.

If the postal executive of the Communication Workers' Union (CWU) accepts the settlement, a ballot of 130,000 workers will be called.

The BBC has learned that under Friday's outline deal,CWU members will get a 6.9% pay rise over 18 months.

Despite Friday's agreement, some wildcat action continued on Monday.

Liverpool and parts of London are affected by the unofficial action, which is likely to add to the backlog of mail in these areas.

Hard-fought

Leaders of the CWU started to present the terms of the deal to the union's executive at their headquarters in Wimbledon, south-west London, just after 1400 BST.

A CWU spokeswoman said the meeting could run over into Tuesday.

Any ballot of Royal Mail workers would be by post, with each member getting one vote.

A simple majority would be required to approve the deal, and the results would be declared one month later.

Neither side in the dispute, which began in June, has yet commented on the terms of an agreement, and the full details are expected to be released after the meeting.

However, the BBC understands that the 6.9% pay rise over 18 months will consist of a 5.4% pay rise between 1 October 2007 and 1 April 2008, followed by a 1.5% pay rise from 1 April 2008 to 1 April 2009. Workers will also receive a lump sum payment of £175.

In addition, the CWU has agreed to support consultation on ending the current final salary pension scheme.

On the question of Royal Mail's modernisation plans - which include the introduction of more flexible working patterns - there is said to be no UK-wide agreement.

Continued....