Frank Armstrong, secretary of the Communication Workers' Union branch, which is based at the Dorcan centre, said: "We have been kept in the dark over these latest proposals and are seeking clarification as to what grades may be in the firing line.

"Certainly management is very top heavy and it would seem to us that it is about time that many of those who are underemployed in what they do should be the legitimate targets, if there is such a thing, at a time like this.

"Be that as it may, what is emerging is that an area that may be at risk is that of the delivery postmen and women.

"Consignia have intimated that they are preparing to negotiate a new delivery specification concerning the current delivery spans and times deliveries are made to the public.

"I am led to believe that the new delivery specification will incorporate amalgamating current deliveries, therefore increasing them and extending the delivery span to at least four hours a day.

"The impact this will have on the delivery side of the business would be immense, not to mention the impact to the general public.

"It would also mean that there would only be one delivery of mail a day, later in the day, dispensing with the second post.

"It goes without saying that the timing of the announcement of further job cuts, heard for the first time by many of our members via the news media, could hardly be worse, just before Christmas."