AN POST has contacted its major customers and faxed thousands of others about the threatened strike at the company, a spokesman said yesterday.
They have been advised not to post letters until further notice in Dublin city and county, Ashbourne, Clonee, Dunboyne, Dunshaughlin, Drumree, Garristown, Gormanstown, Kilcloone, Stamullen and Ratoath.
In all other areas, customers can post letters as normal. The strike, if it goes ahead, affects only the Dublin Mails Centre, but it handles 50 per cent of the country's mail.
An Post has advised customers to post urgent or important items. SDS (parcel) and EMS (courier) services are not involved in the dispute.
Customers may call a special number between 8 a.m. and 6.30 p.m. if they need additional information. It is 1-800-57 58 59.
Courier companies are preparing for increased demand for their services if the strike goes ahead. One Dublin company,
Alpha Couriers, said prices related to distance and the number of items to be delivered. For letters in the Dublin 1 to 8 areas, the company could deliver for 70p per letter. Deliveries outside those areas would be subject to negotiation.
Since it is expected there will be no postal deliveries in the greater Dublin area from tomorrow, Irish Times postal subscribers will have their subscriptions extended at the end of the dispute to take account of days lost.