There are fears that mail services in Northern Ireland could again be disrupted by unofficial strike action as a trade union balloted its members over rising tensions in the workplace.
Communication Workers Union spokesman Eoin Davey accused the management of Royal Mail of driving back industrial relations by 10 years after the ending of a recent unofficial strike in Belfast over claims that staff were being harassed by management.
He said: "People who participated in the strike have been forced to take part in daily debriefs and feel that they are being badly victimised.
"The meetings are of no use and as a result working hours are being lost which could have been spent on reducing the mountain of post built up during the strike. If anything, because of these meetings that mountain is steadily growing."
Mr Davey said postal workers were also concerned by restrictions placed on them on overtime.
They were also concerned about the employment of casual workers and believed proper vetting procedures had not been put on place.
"The postal workers are saying what price do you put on your dignity and the right to go to work without fear of degradation or humiliation. An unofficial strike would be my worst fear right now as feelings are running that high," he said.