CWU pessimistic about prospects for talks progress

The Communications Workers Union has expressed pessimism about the prospects for progress at talks today on the looming strike action at An Post.

The CWU is planning to engage in industrial action from Friday in pursuit of pay increases due under the Sustaining Progress deal.

The union's representatives and An Post management have both agreed to hold separate talks with the NIB today in an effort to resolve the matter.

However, speaking this morning, CWU spokesman Sean McDonagh said he and his colleagues were prepared to negotiate on the issue of work practices.

However, he said this could not be linked to the Sustaining Progress increases as they had already been secured during social partnership talks.

An Post spokesperson Anna McHugh, meanwhile, said she hoped the talks could succeed in averting the planned industrial action.