Postmasters, builders, health workers strike

AN Post has denied union claims that a backlog of post was mounting as a result of the postmasters dispute.

The row over pay for handling and sorting post is in its fourth day with no sign of resolution, as more than 600 postmasters refuse to process post before 8am each morning.

The Irish Postmasters Union had claimed the company was losing out and mountains of post were building up in sorting offices due to delays in small post offices.

An Post acknowledged that there had been delays of up to two hours for deliveries in many parts of Ireland.

However, a spokesman said there had not been, or there would not be, backlogs of letters.

Meanwhile, work stoppages on construction sites in Cork where six bricklayers were laid off last week could spread to the contractor’s sites in Dublin.

The workers claim they were dismissed by contractor Pierse for joining the Builders and Allied Trades Union last week, although this is contested by the construction industry.

The Construction Industry Federation, to which the building company is affiliated, has said the workers were left go because their work was finished.

BATU national secretary Brendan O’Sullivan said Dublin officials were monitoring the situation.

In Dublin, more than 200 hospital attendants are due to stop work for 24 hours today at six Eastern Regional Health Authority hospitals. The move is the start of a rolling industrial action over pay parity with colleagues in acute hospitals in Dublin.

The strike will affect St Mary’s Hospital in Phoenix Park, St Ita’s psychiatric services in Portrane, St Brendan’s in Grangegorman, Bru Chaoimhin Home in Cork St, St Colmcille’s in Loughlinstown and Clonskeagh Hospital.

A planned strike by more than 100 nurses at St John’s Hospital in Sligo was called off yesterday, as SIPTU members agreed to a 12-week review of staffing levels offered by the North Western Health Board.