20/02/2006

Work begins to clear Royal Mail backlog

Royal Mail has today announced that work has begun in an attempt to clear up the backlog of mail accumulated during the 18-day postal strike.

Although a total of 150 extra staff have been taken on and an additional 80 vans have been brought in, it may still take up to four weeks to deliver the delayed post.

An estimated seven million parcels and letters are currently being sorted in Belfast, however most of the mail intended for UK delivery has already been distributed to England, Scotland and Wales, where 25 mail centres are helping to process the delayed post.

Royal Mail has revealed that the strike has already cost them hundreds of thousands of pounds, and in addition to this, customers who suffered due to late post are entitled to claim compensation.

Over 200 workers from the Tomb Street depot in Belfast went on strike on January 31, following disputes with management over disciplinary procedures and alleged cases of bullying. Royal Mail has denied these claims.

During this time, areas in north, south and west Belfast had no mail delivered, and no post was being dispatched to Britain and the Republic of Ireland.

The unofficial action came to an end on Friday when Royal Mail reached an agreement with the Communication Workers Union.

The union has said that its members regretted the inconvenience the strike had caused to the public.

(EF/SP)

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