Unions clash with An Post

UNIONS and management at An Post yesterday accused each other of misrepresenting the development potential of the postal market with both sides producing extensive reports backing up their argument.

Launching an independent economic analysis of the postal market, the four unions at An Post and Irish Congress of Trade Union (ICTU) general secretary David Begg said the global postal market was growing.

As a result, they argued that Ireland could expect increased mail volumes to sustain and even increase employment in the postal sector, making drastic cutbacks sought by management unnecessary.

However, in the latest salvo in the continuing round of industrial relations standoffs at An Post, management immediately rebutted the union’s report, saying it was misleading and “not based on hard fact”.

The union report, produced by economist Paddy Walley, points to international growth in mail volumes and predicts that Ireland should see a 10% rise in mail volumes based on predicted population increases and positive economic forecasts.

Speaking last night, An Post chief operations officer Larry Donald said mail volumes were in decline internationally and in Ireland.