Postal workers suspend industrial action

Staff at An Post – who staged a one-day stoppage yesterday – agreed tonight to suspend further strike action ahead of talks with the Government next week.

The Communications Workers’ Union (CWU) members said they believed that Communications Minister Noel Dempsey was “genuinely committed to breaking the current impasse over outstanding issues”.

Workers are in dispute with management over pay and An Post’s plans to break up the SDS parcel delivery company.

No post was delivered yesterday as 93 post offices around the country closed and about 8,000 workers marched on the Dáil.

In a statement tonight, CWU general secretary Steve Fitzpatrick said that his members had unanimously decided to take up the minister’s request to meet officials for talks next week.

Mr Fitzpatrick added: “In order to facilitate those talks, and to support the minister’s initiative, the CWU will suspend any further industrial action for the time being.”

The CWU also claims the break-up of SDS would make 400 staff redundant and indirectly affect the jobs of 400 others.

A spokesperson for An Post had claimed the CWU strike breached agreed industrial relations procedures and undermined public confidence in the mail system.