The postal sorting office in Great James Street.
The call follows a stand-off of Derry’s Royal Mail staff this morning as a result of soaring Covid infection rates within the premises.
More than 40 staff – a third of its 120-strong workforce – are off work because of Covid-19, the Communication Workers’ Union (CWU) said.
The union said 17 staff at the office have tested positive, with 13 of those having been diagnosed since Friday.
A further 25 members of staff are self-isolating, it added.
The CWU’s Charlie Kelly said it is a “scary time for staff”.
He said it is “highly unlikely” there will be a postal service in the city on Tuesday.
“Staff want a commitment as to when it (the deep clean) is going to get done,” he said.
The Foyle MLA commented: “The past few weeks feels like groundhog day and it would seem that lessons have not been learnt.
“In April, I made the same call for protections for Royal Mail staff and received assurances that a strict health and safety framework was in place.
“I cannot accept that six months down the line our postal workers- the unsung heroes of this pandemic – have been put at risk.
“They are currently operating on just two thirds of their workforce due to COVID related absences.
“The fast rising infection rates since Friday is a huge cause of concern and I fully back staff calls for a deep-clean of their workplace and would ask that management implement more stringent protections, as it is clear the current model has not gone far enough.
“Royal Mail staff have offered a lifeline within our communities from the outset of the pandemic, working day in-day out.
“They deserve better and I had raised these concerns previously.
“I have contacted Senior Management as a matter of urgency to address these concerns.
“We are at a current juncture of this crisis.
“It is important that all protections which can be put in place, are put in place to safeguard our posties.”
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