Is there an agenda to privatise An Post?

AS an employee of An Post I wonder how the service can suddenly go from €1m profit to a loss of over €40m?

Also how come independent research commissioned by the Communications Workers Union (CWU) shows that the SDS operation is actually profitable in stark contrast to An Post management’s figures.

Is there a hidden agenda here? Namely to run An Post into the ground and to get rid of the so-called loss-making areas so that it can then be flogged off cheaply to the private sector cheaply like eircom - with the resultant decline in the quality of service.

Why doesn’t the Government recognise that An Post is providing a social service like CIE and that large parts of the postal network are never going to meet the strict criteria of profitability, such as rural post offices and door-to-door deliveries in rural areas.

Why doesn’t the Government implement the findings of the Flynn report which recognised that An Post has a public service obligation?

Why are An Post workers being punished for the failings and shortcomings of our shareholder, the Government? We haven’t received our last two pay rises which means we are currently being denied 5% owed to us.

If the Government really wanted to, they could pay us our 5% due and ensure the survival of our postal service by recognising that An Post has both a public service obligation and a universal service obligation.

Paul Kinsella

53 Lorcan Grove

Santry

Dublin 9