Consumers Advised To Plan Around Post Office Industrial Action

The Consumer Council is advising consumers posting parcels and cards next week to be aware of planned strike action on the 19, 20 and 24 December 2016, which could affect 6 Post Office branches in Northern Ireland.

The branches which could be affected are:

• Antrim - Castle Centre;

• Belfast City - Bridge Street;

• Bangor - Main Street;

• Coleraine - New Row;

• Derry/Londonderry - Custom House Street; and

• Newtownards - Frances Street.

  The other 480 Post Offices in Northern Ireland will operate as normal. This means consumers can consider visiting a nearby alternative post office. Royal Mail will also be working as normal.

  Customers can visit www.postoffice.co.uk on 19, 20 and 24 December to find out if their branch is closed and which nearby branches are open.

  Michael Legg, Senior Policy Officer at the Consumer Council, said: “At this time of year many consumers will be posting last minute parcels and cards so it is important that consumers plan ahead. If your post office is one of the 6 branches affected and you cannot visit the Post Office on a different day or use another nearby branch, you can take your cards to a post box as collections from Royal Mail will operate as normal but make sure you have paid the correct postage. Royal Mail customers who already use prepaid parcel drop off services can continue to do so at some delivery offices. For more information call Royal Mail on 03457 740 740 or visit www.royalmail.com.”