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The offer comes a week after members of the CWU voted by three-to-one to support strike action as part of an increasingly bitter dispute over pay, modernisation and working conditions.

The vote has forced

In the letter dated today and addressed to Mark Higson, Royal Mail's managing director, the CWU asks Royal Mail for eight steps including:

- that Royal Mail "steps back from imposed change and resolve all current local disputes by agreement".

- to approach the Government along with the CWU "to find a resolution to pensions and regulatory issues".

- that Royal Mail reveals its business plan "for the whole of the planned transformation programme" to help create "an open environment that will allow Royal Mail and CWU to reach a three-year agreement aimed at providing long term stability for the business, employees and our customers"

- "to unequivocally agree planned 2010 change, including the rollout of new walk sequencing machines". 
- improved job security arrangements and a new benefits package for postal workers

- agreement on workload issues, with the help of outside expert

The letter, signed by the CWU's deputy general secretary Dave Ward, has been copied to business organisations including  Federation of Small Businesses, Direct Mail Association, Mail Users Association and British Chambers of Commerce.

It ends: "If Royal Mail really is sincere about reaching an agreement with the Union that aligns the interests of our customers, employees and the company as a whole, then you will pick up this offer."

In a statement sent to media organisations, the CWU says that if Royal Mail refuses the offer, strike dates will be announced on Thursday 15 October with the first one scheduled for 22 October.

"Postal workers do not want to have to take strike action, but neither are they prepared to put up with continuing attacks from a management which is failing," Ward said. "We have offered what we believe is a genuine alternative to reach a lasting agreement. This is an opportunity to avoid a national strike, restore customer confidence and resolve the concerns of staff."