The popularity of the (Irish) State’s postal service has decreased significantly in the past five years, with 40 per cent of businesses and individuals sending less mail than in 1997 preferring to use telephone, the internet and e-mail instead. The findings are contained in the latest quarterly market commentary from the Office of the Director of Telecommunications Regulation (ODTR), Ms Etain Doyle.
Read MoreVarious documents relating to European postal market shares
Read MorePostal deliveries in rural areas of the Irish Republic were delayed for the third day in succession today, by industrial action at sub-post offices.
The 600 members of the Irish Postmasters’ Union, who run post offices in the countryside, are refusing to accept earlier morning deliveries of mail and to supervise and assist sorting.
A spokesman for the union forecast an accumulation of undelivered post at centres across the State, causing delays of up to one and a half days in deliveries.
But the state-backed An Post postal company maintained it was “absolute nonsense” to suggest that there would be a significant backlog by the end of the week.
Postal deliveries in the Irish Republic are being delayed for the second day in succession. The delays are due to industrial action by members of the Irish Postmasters’ Union.
Almost 600 postmasters and postmistresses are refusing to sort mail. They’re involved in a row over payment made for the job. Deliveries from sub-post offices have been held up for as much as two hours. A spokesman says the action will continue indefinitely.
Backlogs of undelivered post are expected to build up by the end of the week.
Both sides in the dispute say there are no plans for further negotiations.
Delays in postal deliveries to rural areas are expected on Monday when sub-post office owners begin industrial action.
Members of the Irish Postmasters’ Union (IPU) say they will not accept mail deliveries from central locations until 8 a.m. in pursuit of their claim for a pay increase.
They will also not be opening their premises until 8 a.m., about two hours later than normal.
A spokesman for An Post said there was no prospect of further talks over the weekend, following a breakdown in negotiations between the company and the union on Thursday.
The impact of the action would not become clear until mid-morning on Monday, he said, but delays in deliveries of up to two hours could be expected.
Rural areas only would be affected, he stressed.
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