Proposals put to union in Irish An Post dispute

Proposals aimed at resolving the dispute between An Post and the Irish Postmasters Union (IPU) over the opening of certain post offices on the Saturdays of bank holiday weekends have been put to the union, the High Court was told.

It was stated that the proposals would go before a meeting of the executive committee of the IPU later yesterday and that it might be necessary to consult with the union membership in relation to an aspect of the proposals.

On May 17th, An Post was granted a High Court order restraining 43 postmasters/ postmistresses from closing their post offices on the Saturday of the June bank holiday weekend.

The 43 – out of a total of 1,400 – closed their offices on the Saturday of the Easter bank holiday.

Mr Justice Kelly said the issue of the obligation of postmasters and sub-postmasters to open or not on a Saturday of a public holiday was a vexed one between the parties for a long time.

Mr Tom Mallon, for An Post, said the company was claiming all postmasters/postmistresses were obliged under contract to open their premises for five and a half days each week. The half day could reflect local custom but with one exception – UCD, Belfield – they had to open for at least a half day on Saturdays, he said.

In an affidavit, An Post’s head of contractors, Mr John Dunleavy, said certain social welfare recipients who usually received benefits on a Monday might, with the consent of the Minister for Social Welfare, be paid on the preceding Saturday where a public holiday fell on that Monday.

When the case came before Mr Justice Kelly yesterday, Mr Anthony Kerr, for the IPU, said discussions had taken place and proposals had been put to the union’s solicitors last Thursday. On the application of Mr Kerr, the judge adjourned the case for two weeks with the injunction already granted remaining in place.