Royal Mail workers are to vote on whether to carry out a national strike over pay and other issues linked to privatisation plans.
The Communication Workers Union said that a vote over future pay, and other aspects of the proposed sell-off, could lead to a strike by 10 October.
This will be the first such ballot for the Royal Mail since 2009.
A spokesman for the Department for Business said: "Industrial action is not necessary".
Dave Ward, CWU deputy general secretary, said: "We want Royal Mail and the government to put protections in place that are both meaningful and lasting".
Privatisation plans have been in development for a number of years, with legislation in 2011 paving the way for a future sale.
In July, Royal Mail proposed a three-year pay agreement for its workforce, including an 8.6% increase in basic pay over three years, which was rejected by the CWU.
Source: BBC News - Business http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-23933039#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa