Belfast postal workers' strike is continuing

Deliveries have been disrupted since an unofficial strike began on 31 January.

Royal Mail said they were in contact with the LRA and are awaiting a reply from the Communication Worker's Union to an offer made on Wednesday.

Nearly half of Belfast City Hospital outpatient appointments were missed this week after letters did not arrive.

The hospital said almost 1,000 people had not kept their outpatient appointments this week as reminder letters did not arrive.

Cancer clinics are, so far, unaffected but oncologists at the hospital fear they could be hit next week if the postal strike continues.

Bullying

The dispute was started by more than 200 postal workers at the city's Tomb Street depot following difficulties between staff and management over disciplinary procedures and other issues in the north Belfast section.

It is understood the dispute relates to allegations of widespread bullying and harassment in the company.

However, Royal Mail rejected the claims, saying the company was only dealing with a small number of cases.

Post has been disrupted in north, south and west Belfast but an attempt to widen the strike to Londonderry failed because of a lack of support for the Belfast workers.

Talks were held at the Labour Relations Agency (LRA) on Thursday evening but there was no breakthrough in the 10-day-long dispute.

Royal Mail and the Social Security Agency have issued advice to customers affected by the dispute. The agency said people who normally received benefit payments through the mail should collect it from their nearest post office.