Hopes are rising that the Oxford postal strike will be over by tonight.

While a mass meeting at Cowley Workers Social Club rejected the latest move for a return to work yesterday, there is just one sticking point now being negotiated by national union leaders and management.

It involves a manager in charge of the shift which included the seven-strong group of workers alleged to have intimidated and harassed other staff -- prompting the unofficial dispute more than two weeks ago.

The striking workers want him removed from his duties and redeployed.

One employee, who works under the manager, said: "We are more satisfied than we were last week -- now the final obstacle has to be removed and the cancer cut out altogether.

"It has been a matter of principle. It's a good place to work and it has been brilliant to see everyone stand together the way they have."

The strikers have succeeded in having the group at the centre of the row disbanded and reallocated to other areas while management has also climbed down over punishing the strikers for taking unofficial action by removing overtime for up to two weeks.

All overtime will be restored next week provided staff return to work.

Communication Workers union representative Bob Cullen said: "The strike will continue as the staff did not feel safe while the manager was still there. But there was real movement today and a feeling we could go back to work provided the issue is resolved."

Royal Mail spokesman Richard Hall said: "Hopefully the outstanding issue can be resolved and we are obviously closer to an agreement although we are obviously disappointed staff did not return to work today."

Meanwhile, the Oxford Mail can reveal millions of letters and parcels are being stockpiled in military hangars between Steventon and Abingdon.

Royal Mail managers admit the stockpiling operation is happening because they fear other sorting offices around the country could also strike if asked to deal with mail from Oxford.

MORE DUMPED MAIL FOUND

Two dumped sacks of undelivered mail destined for Oxford households were pulled from a river by a rowing crew on April 14.

The red sacks were found floating a short distance apart on the River Thames between Radley and Sandford Lock at about 11am.

Rowing coach Jock Mullard said both were full of post -- including birthday cards and bills -- meant for addresses in the OX4 area, covering south-east Oxford.

The discovery comes a week after the Oxford Mail reported how a plastic bag containing undelivered post -- addressed to streets in Headington -- was found in a field in New Marston, Oxford.

Mr Mullard, of Kennington Road, Radley, near Abingdon, and some of the Radley College Under-15s crew he was coaching pulled the sacks from the water. He said: "It looked like the mail had already been sorted because the post I saw was destined for Blackbird Leys and the OX4 area.

"It was quite sad to look inside the sacks and see everything soggy. There was the usual junk mail, but also things like birthday cards and useful stuff like credit card bills, everyday things that are important to people."

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