The Post Office has announced contingency plans for a threatened two-day strike by postal workers next week.

Members of the Communication Workers’ Union voted overwhelmingly for industrial action and plan to stage a two-day walk out beginning on Thursday December 13.

CWU union boss Terry Pullinger said there is still time to avert the strike over changes to postal workers’ terms and conditions, and service levels.

He said the union has offered to have three days of intensive talks with Post Office management.

The Post Office said it will do all it can to work with the CWU to avoid the strike.

But it said it is planning for the ‘worst case scenario’ to try to minimise disruption to customers and delay to their mail.

Customers are being urged to post early and order online as soon as possible for Christmas and avoid leaving it until nearer the time.

The Post Office said that with potentially more than 200 members of staff out on strike, an island-wide doorstep delivery of standard post will not be possible.

Instead, it will prioritise premium services (Special Delivery and Parcelforce 24), Yodel parcel deliveries and business services for commercial clients.

Depending on how many people attend for work on the strike days, the Post Office will try to deliver and collect as much other mail as possible.

Simon Kneen, chief executive, said: ‘We will receive both air and sea mail into the island on the mornings of both strike days as normal and make evening airmail despatches to the UK.

‘We will be contacting our business customers separately to explain our contingencies to try to maintain the flow of mail they need during the two days.’

He continued: ‘Special Delivery and Parcelforce next-day guaranteed items will be delivered on strike days although may be subject to a small time delay.

‘Meanwhile, the despatch of Special Delivery and Parcelforce items on those evenings will be as normal and the time guarantee for both services will remain in place.’

The Post Office apologised to customers affected during the lead up to the Post Office’s busiest weekend of the year.

Post Office branches across the island will be open as normal as will the self-service Pay and Post kiosks located in the Spar, Colby, Strand Street Post Office, Douglas, the Sea Terminal, Tesco on Lake Road, Douglas, Shoprite, Victoria Road, Douglas, Station Garage, Castletown, Shoprite in Peel and Ramsey, Postal Headquarters in Douglas and Ramsey Post Office.

MiCard customers will be unaffected.

The customer counter at the Southern Delivery Office will be open as normal but there will be reduced opening hours at the counter provided at the Northern Delivery Office.

The Integrated Mailing Solutions (IMS) division will continue to be open offering printing, fulfilment and scanning services.

Mr Kneen said: ‘The full management team will be working over the two days together with other members of staff who choose not to strike.

‘It has been confirmed some CWU staff will attend work on the strike days. I wish to thank all my staff in advance for their hard work and additional hours they have offered to work.’

Regular updates will be posted on a dedicated ‘Strike action updates’ web page www.iompost.com/strike