Irish postal row update

Irish postmasters are to ballot for the withdrawal of mail services from the entire network if a resolution to the ongoing dispute with An Post is not reached next week.

Around 600 postmasters who work for An Post as contractors are seeking a pay rise.

Hundreds of postmasters met in Dublin yesterday to discuss what action to take next following weeks of disruption nationwide.

All but three members voted in favour of authorising the executive of the Irish Postmasters` Union to ballot for strike action if next Wednesday`s meeting with the company fails to resolve the dispute.

Members also agreed the total closure of the post office network should not be ruled out.