Strikes may hit Christmas post
The IPU have been engaged in limited industrial action for the past 10 weeks causing delays of about an hour in a small number of rural areas, according to management.
The stoppages are due to begin from Friday November 7.
However, An Post rejected the claim that talks have broken down and warn that those taking strike action will be in breach of their contracts.
A management spokesperson said the industrial relations expert appointed to examine the dispute, Mr Philip Flynn, would be issuing settlement proposals next week.
IPU general secretary John Kane said they were balloting for industrial action and the result was expected next Tuesday.
He said they were currently earning a derisory 2 an hour for time worked before 8am and were seeking 40 an hour.
Mr Kane accused the management negotiating team of being unable to make crucial decisions on the pay demand. They were just “sitting on their hands” at the settlement talks which he claimed were making no progress.
If the post offices in Dublin 4 were affected he said the dispute would be resolved very quickly but because it involved rural post offices the Government was very slow to act.
An Post have described the allegation of foot dragging as insulting. Stating that the union’s members had been offered a package two years ago covering this issue but they had opted to leave things as they stood.
