The Communication Workers Union plans to shut down the postal system midday Thursday for 48 hours, and then restart the strike early Monday, Oct. 8, for another 48 hours, The Telegraph reported Saturday.

With the strike straddling a weekend, it means mail likely will go undelivered for six consecutive days.

"It's going to cause all sorts of problems," said Andy Frewin of the consumer group Postwatch. "The advice we'd give is just because your credit card bill has not arrived, it does not mean you don't have to pay it."

The strike was scheduled after talks between the union and Royal Mail broke down last week. The union rejected a 2.5 percent pay increase and modernization plans the union claims would eliminate 40,000 jobs.