CAEN. France, Dec 31: Striking postal workers who have held at least 600.000 letters and packages hostage in an extended walkout at a mail sorting centre will return to work next week, reports AP.

The strikers, holdouts in widespread walkouts that began Nov 24 and ended In’ most sectors in mid-December, agreed Friday night to go back to work next Tuesday.

Christmas packages and other mail have piled up art the postal sorting centre in Caen in France's western province of Normandy since the workers walked out on Nov 28.

Claude Giacalone, a leader of postal employees represented by the powerful General Labour Confederation, said the strike could resume "if^ve don't get what we have asked for"

Strikers had demanded the hiring of more workers as well as improved Job security for temporary employees. Giacalone said his union had obtained some "interesting" concessions in writing, but It was not immediately clear Just what the postal service agreed to do.

Meanwhile, negotiations resumed Saturday between the city of Marseille and bus and subway drivers who have continued their crippling strike in the Mediterranean port city.