Backlog of undelivered mail as postal dispute remains deadlocked

A HUGE backlog of mail remained undelivered in a Cork town yesterday as a dispute between An Post and the Communications Workers Union remained deadlocked Counter services resumed yesterday at strike-hit post offices throughout the country but the CWU warned an impasse in Midleton, Co Cork, was likely to continue.

Both sides are in dispute over the conversion of the east Cork town’s branch office to a sub-office.

With drivers at the Cork central sorting office refusing to ferry mail to Midleton, there have been no local post deliveries since Thursday last.

CWU members in 13 locations called off unofficial industrial action yesterday. The protest arose after An Post tried to implement a cost-cutting programme agreed last year, including the downgrading of some branch offices.

An Post claimed it reached an agreement with Midleton staff last November but the CWU insisted there had been no consultations.

More than 10,000 social welfare recipients were left without payments after lightning strikes closed the GPO in Dublin and 13 other offices around the country earlier this week.

An Post spokesman John Foley said: “Services are back to normal in terms of counter operations but, in Midleton, there’s a three-day backlog of mail as drivers from Cork are refusing to deliver the mail.”

Mr Foley said An Post has an agreement with Midleton staff on the conversion programme.

“We discussed it with them locally and they were paid 12.5% extra backdated from June last year Mr Foley added.

But the CWU’s Sean McDonagh last night accused An Post of rejecting an offer by the union to resolve the Midleton dispute.

He said the union failed to secure assurances from An Post that the company would not implement changes without further staff consultation.

Suggesting the issue was deadlocked, he said the planned Midleton conversion had implications for four clerks and 14 delivery staff.