Postal workers to sort out mail at home
An Post were last night in discussions with the union representing postmen and women in a bid to ensure that mail deliveries can take place.
The alternative arrangements would involve postmen collecting mail for delivery from An Post main offices and in some cases to sort it in their own homes.
But the move has resulted in a head on clash between the Post Masters Union and the Communications Workers Union which represents the postmen.
The Post Masters Union has strongly condemned the postmen union for attempting to undermine its industrial action and it says it is seriously concerned about the prospect of having postmen and women sort mail in their own homes. It says this could raise serious security issues.
The Communications Union has rejected the criticism and accused the postmasters of putting the jobs and earnings of its members at risk.
It also criticised the IPU for failing to discuss the impact of their action on postmen and women.
Hundreds of postal workers had earlier agreed to sort out mail in their own homes from tomorrow as the bitter fees row involving 600 independentpostmasters enters a new phase.
The Irish Postmasters’ Union said the sorting of mail in private homes raises serious issues about the security of the mail service, particularly registered letters and sensitive mail for solicitors and doctors. It.expressed regret that a sister union was engaged in “collaboration” with the company.
Under the deal, mail vans would deliver the post to the postpersons’ homes. The postal workers were to be given an allowance of 30 minutes for the sorting in their homes. All sorting facilities will be shut today at rural offices operated by IPU members who have contracts with An Post. There will be no sorting facilities at these post offices on each Monday and Friday until Christmas.
“We are not in dispute with the company,” said Steve Fitzpatrick, Communications Workers’ Union, which represents the 1,500 postpersons caught up in the IPU row which began 12 weeks ago. “We’ve tried to help the postmasters’ union; they have never in any dispute we ever had co-operated with us,” he added. “Their attitude is a bit hard to stomach. If they closed down their own premises I would have some respect for them, but in these circumstances, they are taking no pain and want to inflict it on our members.”
An Post has said it considers the postmasters’ action a breach of contract.
