Emergency measures in place for social welfare recipients as postal dispute stops letters
The Department of Social Protection has said it is organising emergency measures for customers whose payments will be disrupted by the postal strike.
The department announced that payments usually made by cheque can be collected from Intreo offices or local Social Welfare branches tomorrow.
However the cheques will only be available on the day after they are usually received in the post.
The measures will not affect customers who usually collect their payments at a post office, or have them lodged into their bank accounts as these payments are unaffected by the strike.
Thirty-six workers at IO Systems, who are responsible for automated mail-sorting equipment in An Post's mail centres, have been on strike since Friday and are supported by the Communications Workers Union. The industrial dispute is over cuts to their pay.
Meanwhile, people are being urged to make appointments online for the duration of the dispute, and passports should be collected in person from the country's main passport offices.
