Postal strike unlikely despite discord at sorting offices

Postal workers yesterday moved to quell fears over the delivery of Christmas mail after it emerged that postal staff were at loggerheads with a contractor at the four national mail centres over staff changes.

It emerged yesterday that the Communication Workers Union (CWU) had raised its concerns with IO systems, which maintains sorting machinery in the four mail centres, over a move to send home 38 technicians on Monday evening.

Sean MacDonagh of the CWU said IO Systems, which is based in Athlone, Co Westmeath, had last night agreed to place the technicians back on the payroll and that the company and the union would hold talks today.