Irish An Post countrywide strike looming

A countrywide postal strike has moved closer as a result of an overwhelming vote by workers at An Post to pursue industrial action. Members of the Communications Workers Union (CWU) have voted 83pc in favour of such action in a bid to secure pay rises. The union is refusing to accept a claim by management that it cannot afford to pay the 3pc wage rise due under the national pay deal. The vote makes a bad industrial relations situation in the loss making company even worse. Various local disputes over working conditions have already led to outbreaks of unofficial action by CWU members in various parts of the country over the past month, disrupting local mail services. Talks between the union and An Post have also effectively broken down over a 1,450 job cuts plan to try to save the company.