Postal workers have gone on unofficial strike

A Royal Mail spokeswoman said no progress had been made but their door remained open.

More than 200 workers at Royal Mail's Tomb Street depot began an unofficial strike on Tuesday in a row over disciplinary procedures.

Deliveries have been affected in north, south and west Belfast.

Postal deliveries in east Belfast are unaffected.

Royal Mail has made contingency plans for children expecting their 11-plus results on Saturday.

Unions representing staff said they would not go back to work until the company dealt with outstanding issues.

Both sides in the dispute have said they want a resolution to it.

Picket

The unofficial action is being blamed on difficulties between staff and management over disciplinary procedures and other issues in the north Belfast section.

The strike action is illegal and Royal Mail have said they will not enter into negotiations about the dispute until employees return to work.

Talks between management and the Communications Workers' Union aimed at settling the dispute broke down on Tuesday afternoon.

Fra Martin from the Communication Workers' Union said his union did not support what was happening but Royal Mail needed to talk to the striking workers.

"We have asked the men to return to work in trying to resolve this impasse," he said.

"But unfortunately Royal Mail will not engage with us because they will not speak to us while our members are out on unofficial industrial action."

Mr Martin said staff were "not prepared to work in an environment where Royal Mail have been applying a conduct system in which they have no faith".

David Peden, commercial manager, said the action was damaging.

"Nothing is to be gained by prolonging this very damaging stoppage," he said.