Stalemate in Irish postal dispute

The Communication Workers’ Union (CWU) executives met and decided not to spreadindustrial action outside of the greater Dublin region.

Union official Sean McDonagh said: “We have attempted at all stages to resolve this, despite lockouts and provocations, and said that this is madness and we need to get people working and have honest and open discussions. We have problems and need to address them in An Post”.

“Last Friday our executive took a decision not to implement the ballot approval for a dispute and then the company jumped into a dispute at 2am on Saturday morning. Ourmembers’ long-term viability is tied into the future of An Post and we want all the ‘people issues’ to be dealt with,” he added.

Following yesterday’s meeting, the union called on Communications Minister DermotAhern to clarify his position regarding the stand off. A spokesman said: “It is in thenational interest to see a full and immediate resumption of the postal service to enablethe public to receive their mail again as normal.”

Mr Ahern responded to media reports that he had been briefed on the management approach.

“With regard to newspaper reports, I did not give a green light to management or indeedthe unions, with regard to this dispute. My officials and I have been available to facilitate in any way possible. This problem has been simmering for some time.

“My position has always been that the ‘bush-fire disputes’ in a number of regions areunofficial actions and that there is a time-honoured labour relations apparatus, set up under partnership agreements and before, to facilitate round-table discussions. Thisdispute will ultimately be solved around a table,” said the minister.

The Labour Relations Commission concluded on Wednesday night that there was not abasis for constructive dialogue or negotiations.

The dispute is complex as it involves workplace changes, a 15pc staff shareholding, elimination of endemic overtime, payment of the 3pc pay rise under the national wageterms and 1,450 job cuts.

These measures are intended to produce cost savings of over 50m and would cut average postal workers wages by up to 17,000 a year. The recovery plan would slice about one-third off the take-home pay of 5,000 collection and delivery staff.

The management has a target to abolish 20,000 hours overtime a week, most of whichwill impact staff in the Dublin region.

In a back-handed tribute to the CWU’s effectiveness, the company said that the union had caused maximum disruption to postal services in the city by focussing action on the Dublin Mails Centre.