Charities warn of postal row’s impact on funds

CHARITIES last night warned of hampered fundraising efforts if postal services are not restored.

As the An Post dispute enters its second week, Ian McKeever of the Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland said running costs were rising as courier and phone use increased.

He said the postal dispute was also making it difficult to get vital information out to those in need.

“I can understand the concern for businesses but we should think of charities in a business context as well. We can’t get information out to concerned carers and persons in distress who need the information.”

In addition Focus Ireland, the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and St Vincent de Paul all indicated fund-raising campaigns were being undermined.

As the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) continued behind-the-scenes efforts to bridge the gap between An Post management and the Communications Workers Union (CWU), Communications Minister Dermot Ahern came under increasing pressure yesterday to act to resolve the issue.

Although Mr Ahern has repeatedly called for both sides to re-enter LRC talks, he has not moved towards introducing the Employee Share Ownership Trust (ESOT) promised to workers as part of a 2000 deal.

The failure of the Government to introduce the ESOT is one of the core issues which led to CWU workers refusing to implement new work practices agreed under the deal.

While a spokesman for An Post said it was up to the Government to introduce the ESOT and insisted the company was entitled to expect work changes already paid for, opposition parties and other An Post unions yesterday criticised the Government and Mr Ahern for failing to do more to have services restored.

Fine Gael communications spokesman Simon Coveney said Mr Ahern had to take a pro-active role.

“After one week of disruption to postal services we are no closer to a resolution between management and unions. Reports in today’s media that both sides seem to be preparing themselves for a long and bitter dispute is an unacceptable situation for the public and consumers who rely on a postal delivery service in Dublin,” he said.

Labour communications spokesman Tommy Broughan said Mr Ahern could not continue to wash his hands of the affair.

“The scale of disruption and inconvenience is growing each day. In addition, small firms are facing major cash-flow problems, and there is a real danger that if the dispute is not settled soon, some workers may be laid off,” he said.

The Civil and Public Services Union (CPSU), with 500 members in An Post’s financial services decision, also criticised Mr Ahern.

CPSU general officer Eoin Ronayne said: “There is grave concern at the hands-off approach being adopted by the minister. There is a real feeling in the CPSU that the minister holds the key to this.”

A spokesman for Mr Ahern was unavailable for comment last night.