Ex-Royal Mail boss hits out at board for ‘confrontational path’ on strikes

Rico Back believes postal service's talks with union have been poorly handled

• UK strike calendar - service stoppages planned for January

The former Royal Mail boss Rico Back has launched a withering attack on the company's board, saying its chief executive lacked experience and had poorly handled talks with the Communication Workers Union that led to strikes and chaos in the run-up to Christmas.

Royal Mail has been locked for months into an increasingly bitter battle with the CWU over pay and changes to working conditions. Simon Thompson joined as chief executive two years ago from the online grocer Ocado.