Postal Strike Goes Ahead

A follow-up three day National Postal strike will begin on Thursday 29th October unless Royal Mail and the Communication Workers Union can reach agreement. Despite more than 30 hours of talks and a two day strike taking place last week, no solution has yet  been found to prevent the industrial action going ahead. The parties are due to meet again today with talks aimed at ending the row over pay, conditions and modernisation.

Last week's strike action began at 4am on Thursday, with the Mail Centre at Mallusk in Co Antrim closing. Mail centre staff and drivers were on strike that day, with delivery and collection staff striking the following day. In Northern Ireland the majority of the 26 delivery offices were involved in the industrial reaction with up to 5,000 CWU members being involved in the walkout. 

Among those most affected by last weeks strike, and the threat of further action this week, are small businesses who rely on the efficient delivery of their goods to maintain their place in the market. The Federation of Small Businesses said any delay in post could “severely impact on livelihoods and even be detrimental to the future of the business”.

However, Royal Mail was keen to stress that they will be “doing everything possible to keep the mail moving and to minimise disruption for our customers. Royal Mail very much regrets that mail services in Northern Ireland are likely to be disrupted as a result of the planned national strike action being taken by the Communication Workers Union (CWU). Delays are inevitable, however, and we apologise unreservedly for this.”

For those who receive their benefit payments by cheque the Department of Social Development (DSD) has advised that contingency plans have been put in place to ensure that customers receive their benefit payment on time. All JSA and ESA payments have been advanced and the DSD has also arranged for Retirement Pension and Incapacity Benefit payments to be brought forward by a day. All other payments will be issued as normal as they are already issued sufficiently far ahead of normal payday. Any customers with a problem over the non receipt of cheques should again contact their benefit paying Branch within the Agency.

Royal Mail has advised customers to avoid posting mail on Strike Days, whenever this is possible. If it is urgent that items are posted, customers should try to post early in the day and use the Royal Mail's Special Delivery Service.  Customers can get further information and advice from the Royal Mail website at www. royalmail.com.