Post standoff

Australia Post says it's confident Christmas mail will be delivered on time, with most striking workers agreeing to be back on the job today as an act of "Christmas goodwill".

Thousands of Australia Post workers stopped work yesterday for their second strike in a week, after 20,000 workers walked off the job on December 16, disrupting mail services nationwide.

Workers are calling for Australia Post to protect full-time jobs and penalty shifts, as well as end the use of company-paid doctors whom they allege are forcing sick and injured employees back to work.