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Second wave of mail strikes in NI Second wave of mail strikes in NI
(20 minutes later)
Postal services in Northern Ireland will be disrupted from Thursday during a second wave of industrial action by Royal Mail staff across the UK.Postal services in Northern Ireland will be disrupted from Thursday during a second wave of industrial action by Royal Mail staff across the UK.
Northern Ireland's main sorting office at Mallusk in County Antrim is among the UK mail centres taking part in a 24-hour strike which began at 0400 GMT.Northern Ireland's main sorting office at Mallusk in County Antrim is among the UK mail centres taking part in a 24-hour strike which began at 0400 GMT.
Royal Mail said that deliveries and collections would continue as normal.Royal Mail said that deliveries and collections would continue as normal.
NI customers should not be affected by strikes at data entry centres on Friday but disruption continues on Saturday.NI customers should not be affected by strikes at data entry centres on Friday but disruption continues on Saturday.
A very limited delivery and collection service will be available on the final day of the three-day strike, as local mail delivery offices take part in a 24-hour action.A very limited delivery and collection service will be available on the final day of the three-day strike, as local mail delivery offices take part in a 24-hour action.
Apology to customersApology to customers
Royal Mail said it anticipated that some of its 26 delivery offices in Northern Ireland would be operating as normal on Saturday but admitted that delays would be "inevitable".Royal Mail said it anticipated that some of its 26 delivery offices in Northern Ireland would be operating as normal on Saturday but admitted that delays would be "inevitable".
THREE DAY STRIKE IN NI Thursday - Mallusk mail centre on strike, delivery and collection services continueFriday - Normal service as there are no manual data entry centres in NISaturday - Delivery offices on strike, limited delivery and collection serviceTHREE DAY STRIKE IN NI Thursday - Mallusk mail centre on strike, delivery and collection services continueFriday - Normal service as there are no manual data entry centres in NISaturday - Delivery offices on strike, limited delivery and collection service
The company apologised to its customers and advised them to avoid posting mail on both Thursday and Saturday if possible.The company apologised to its customers and advised them to avoid posting mail on both Thursday and Saturday if possible.
Post Office branches are not affected by the strike and will be open as normal.Post Office branches are not affected by the strike and will be open as normal.
This latest wave of industrial action in the UK-wide dispute comes after a two-day strike last week.This latest wave of industrial action in the UK-wide dispute comes after a two-day strike last week.
It was followed by three days of talks between the Communication Workers' Union (CWU) and Royal Mail management which began on Monday.It was followed by three days of talks between the Communication Workers' Union (CWU) and Royal Mail management which began on Monday.
However, the talks ended without agreement and union leaders confirmed on Wednesday evening that the strike would continue.However, the talks ended without agreement and union leaders confirmed on Wednesday evening that the strike would continue.
Michael Kennedy, Royal Mail's NI regional operations director, said their main priority was to get through the busy Christmas period.
"It is a very difficult time - disruption over Christmas will be bad for our customers, bad for the business and bad for all our employees," he said.
"What we're trying to do is get some breathing space. We've said no more changes between now and Christmas, we've said we want to come up with a way to enable us to talk throughout the Christmas period and come back and try to reach formal agreement in January."