Industrial strife - Threat to social partnership

With postal workers at this stage apparently determined to go ahead with their strike on Friday and the planned SIPTU march tomorrow, the country faces the unusual prospect of industrial discontent.

Despite continuing efforts to avoid the potential strike through the Labour Court and Government avenues, this dispute over the company’s failure to pay the full terms of the Sustaining Progress Partnership will lead to disruption.

If it is allowed to fester, and both sides become even more intransigent, it has the potential to cause serious damage in the run-up to Christmas.