Postal workers have gone on unofficial strike

Royal Mail has assured the Belfast Education and Library Board that the results will be delivered on time.

However, the Communications Workers' Union said staff had already pledged to deliver the test results even if the dispute had not been settled in time.

The strike involving more than 200 staff has been on-going since Tuesday.

Union spokesman Gabrielle McCurry said his members felt very strongly that delivery of the test results was not jeopardised.

"Our members have agreed, if need be, if a deal has not been brokered, to return to work on Saturday to deliver 11-plus (results) so that no children are put out," he said.

Royal Mail has said the results will be delivered by management if postal staff are not back at work.

Results

David Peden, commercial manager for Royal Mail, said a number of different options were being considered to ensure pupils get their results at the weekend.

"We have been speaking to the education authorities and we are very confident that the contingency plans that have been put in place will ensure that everyone gets 11-plus results on Saturday morning," he said.

"We still have to finalise them with the education authority but there are a couple of different scenarios, one of them including handing the results over at the schools themselves."

The unofficial strike has been going on at the city's Tomb Street postal depot since Tuesday following a row over disciplinary procedures.

Deliveries have been disrupted in north, south and west Belfast, but the east of the city is not affected.

Talks to settle the dispute broke down on Wednesday without agreement.

Fra Mahon from the Communications Workers' Union said he was hopeful that the dispute could be resolved.

"We will be trying to re-engage with Royal Mail, to sit down and hopefully common sense will prevail and we can broker a deal to break the impasse," he said.

Resolution sought

"I would just ask Royal Mail to reconsider their decision and be a little flexible on their approach.

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

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

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

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