An Post agrees to NIB plan

Strike action at An Post was narrowly avoided tonight as union chiefs and management lifted staff suspensions and removed threats of a walkout.

An Post bosses agreed to plans from the National Implementation Body to reinstate 68 workers who were removed from the payroll last Monday.

Leaders at the Communications and Workers Union also followed NIB recommendations to lift the threat of a nationwide stoppage which would cripple the postal service.

Steve Fitzpatrick, CWU general secretary, said taking the dispute over the closure of the Special Delivery service to the Labour Court was the only viable solution.

He said the union and workers wanted a no strings approach to solving the crisis.

“No-one should underestimate the degree of anger and resolve among workers at An Post,” he said.

“While I have on this occasion persuaded members to pull back from the brink of national industrial action, I am appalled that the disgraceful and indefensible behaviour of management has required yet another intervention from the NIB and social partners.

“Yet again today, we find that the only way of reigning in an irresponsible state employer is through third-party intervention.”

It is understood the closure of An Post Special Delivery Service could be postponed under the NIB plan while a final settlement is sought through the Labour Court.

The dispute centres over company plans to reintegrate the SDS into the main An Post business with the loss of 270 jobs.

A spokeswoman for An Post said the company was continuing to work with the Labour Relations Commission on arrangements to restart work in SDS.