New pay deals agreed for An Post and Eir workers

An Post deal marks 'highest pay increase agreed at the company in 20 years'

Two new pay agreements have been negotiated for employees at Eir and An Post by the Communications Workers Unions (CWU) which are set to go to member's ballot.

If the votes are successful, An Post workers will see an 8% increase in pay over two years, while Eir workers are in line for an up 13% boost to their salary over the next 33 months. 

If approved, workers at An Post, led by CEO, David McRedmond, will see an increase of 4%, effective from 1 January 2024, followed by another 3% from 1 January 2025 and a final 1% from 1 June 2025. The agreement will conclude on 31 December 2025.

Members of the union will be balloted on the agreements in the coming weeks.

Speaking on the deal, CWU general secretary Seán McDonagh said it covers almost 8,500 postal workers and marks the highest pay increase agreed at the company in 20 years.

“I believe it is a just reward for the essential contribution of workers at An Post to the transformation of the company,” Mr McDonagh added.

For Eir workers, those earning up to €50,000 are in line for an 11% increase in base pay over 33 months from 1 July 2024, while those earning more than €70,000 are in line for a 10% increase. The deal is front-loaded, delivering 6.5% and 5.5% respectively in first 12 months.

The Eir agreement also provides for pay progression for managerial grades which could see increases totalling 13% throughout the deal, the CWU said.

The trade union's delegate conference is taking place in Galway this week with both pay deals being recommended by its executive. 

“The pay agreements are the culmination of difficult and protracted negotiations against the backdrop of high inflation, higher interest rates and increased pressures on household budgets for ordinary workers trying to support themselves and their families," said Mr McDonagh.

“We had ground to make up which I believe we have in the agreements we are recommending to members.”