Postal strike 'could delay welfare payments'

A one-day stoppage by postal workers could delay thousands of welfare payments shattering public confidence in the company, it was claimed today.

An Post said tomorrow’s 24-hour strike was utterly unacceptable and warned a severe backlog of mail deliveries could run on into the weekend.

The Communications Workers Union called for action after alleging An Post management broke a series of agreements including the failure to give workers pay rises for the past two years.

A total of 93 main offices will shut affecting 30,000 social welfare payments and pensions.

A spokeswoman for An Post said the industrial action would only cause further damage to the company’s reputation and poor financial situation.

“The strike decision of the CWU is a thoughtless rejection of the legitimate interests of pensioners, the unemployed and others dependant on social welfare payments,” she said.

“The union is contriving a dispute with management where there is none.”

An Post had operational losses of €43m last year.

Union bosses are also angered over the closure of An Post Special Delivery Service. They also called for a full debate on the financial state of An Post and investment strategies needed to safeguard its future.

An Post said there could be no dispute over the integration of its Special Delivery Service into the main company.

“Belligerent action against an important public service, the repudiation of an agreement – brokered by the LRC – on Christmas arrangements and an attack on welfare recipients can only worsen long term prospects for An Post, its customers and stakeholders,” the spokeswoman added.

Today is the deadline for staff at the SDS parcel section to express interest in a voluntary severance package, initial applications for the deal have so far exceeded 250.

An SDS plant at Newlands on the Naas Road near Dublin is to be sold for more than €30m to fund the redundancy scheme.

The company said 1,350 sub-post offices throughout the State will be open tomorrow. Many of these handle social welfare payments.

An Post called on union leaders to accept the dire financial situation and take part in meaningful discussions to resolve the crisis.

It is hoped however Christmas post will not be affected if the industrial dispute was contained to the 24-hour stoppage and festive working arrangements went ahead as planned.