One of the UK’s longest running labour disputes could be nearing an end after the Royal Mail and the Communication Workers Union announced they reached an "in principle" agreement over pay and conditions for 115,000 postal workers. Over the past year Royal Mail workers have walked out in a series of strikes, including in the lead up to Christmas. It comes weeks after rail workers closed a deal to end months of striking. The move comes amid signs that strike disruption is taking a toll on UK economic growth. On the flipside the Royal College of Nurses have suggested their members could be striking until December after rejecting a pay offer from the government. The strikes are a headache for the government, less than a month before local elections and with a general election expected next year.