Postal dispute - Chris just wants dispute resolved

SINCE the postmasters dispute began, Chris Jones has had to work harder. He used to begin his morning route at 9.30am. That start is now delayed to after 10am on Mondays and Fridays when he has to travel 10 miles to Waterford to get the mail for his route.

An Post has to pay him overtime for such work, as well as forking out for the extra diesel for the run.

The 39-year-old single man, like other postmen in the country, would like to see the dispute resolved. "This dispute is between the Postmaster's Union and An Post. But we have been dragged into the middle of it.

His run used to begin at 9.30am. His 333 customers along the Fenor route knew what time they'd get their post. Now, that's all delayed. It's now after 10am before he begins work.

"I have been a postman for six-and-a-half years now. It's the best job in the world. We're as anxious as anyone to resume normal service."

The postman says the dispute will take a lot of resolving and that postmasters could well be pushed to the pin of their collars. However, he doesn't think they'll shut down altogether they'll have to cater for the most needy who depend on them for their social welfare and pension payments.