Postal staff offer deal to suspend strike threat

Postal workers have offered to suspend their planned nationwide strike if An Post allows independent costings of work practice changes, it emerged today.

The Communications Workers Union (CWU) has announced a nationwide ban on overime working and all-out strike action at the GPO in Dublin and other selected locations throughout the country tomorrow.

But the union said that it had offered to suspend the action during talks with the National Implementation Body (NIB) if independent experts were allowed to determine the costs of the work practice changes.

“Effectively yesterday the NIB had some concerns about what An Post was saying, and their figures. They were talking about getting some help themselves, to get someone to examine them. So we were prepared to postpone our industrial action to give them that space but An Post management refused to allow people in,” said national officer Sean McDonagh.

Mr McDonagh, who is part of the CWU’s negotiating team, said the issue would form part of today’s resumed talks with the NIB.

The CWU represents 8,500 workers at An Post. It has accused the company of failing to pay cost of living increases to workers and pensioners under the Sustaining Progress national agreement.

The Labour Court has recommended payment but only if workers agree to productivity changes.

An Post has described the planned strike as unnecessary and irresponsible.

“The last thing the country needs is a postal dispute, and it’s the last thing the staff and the company need,” said spokeswoman Anna McHugh.

She was unable to comment on An Post’s response to the CWU’s offer but said the company had made itself available at every juncture for talks.

“Remember it was the general secretary of the CWU who left those talks n Friday and announced strike action,” she said.

An Post has told customers it will not be possible to guarantee any mails services in or out of the country due to the planned strike.

The company has called on the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU), to get the CWU to provide information needed to minimise the effect of the strike.

In a speech at a major protest rally in Dublin last week, ICTU general secretary David Begg said the union was 100% behind the postal workers.