Postal unions lock horns over pre-Christmas strike

The Irish Postmasters' Union has criticised the Communications Workers Union for advising postal delivery staff to sort mail in their homes during the upcoming IPU strike.

The CWU said it issued the advice to help overcome the problems expected to be caused when the IPU embarks on its rolling stoppage.

The IPU is planning to close 540 sorting offices throughout the country for two days every week between now and Christmas as part of a long-running dispute with An Post over pay and conditions.

The union's spokesman John Kane said today that the CWU's advice to postmen that they sort mail in their homes is irresponsible from a security point of view, particularly as a lot of private mail could be sensitive communication between solicitors, doctors, politicians and others.