An Post: Demspey won't intervene

Friday, 12 November 2004

The Minister for Communicaions, Marine and Natural Resources, Noel Dempsey, has said there must be certainty in the very near future about the Christmas post to allow consumers to make arrangements.

He said it was not his place to intervene in the dispute as it was now a matter for the Labour Relations Commission.

He called on all the parties ot cooperate under the normal industrial relations machinery to come to a conclusion as a matter of urgency.

An Post had warned that industrial action over Christmas, threatened by the Communications Workers Union, could have catastrophic consequences for the company.

The union is currently balloting postal staff for industrial action in a row over pay and productivity. The result of that ballot is expected in three weeks.

In a statement yesterday, An Post said it had offered terms for staffing and overtime arrangements similar to those which applied last year.

An Post's second largest union, the CPSU, has expressed growing concern about the worsening industrial relations climate at the company. The union said the current impasse between the company and the CWU should not allow the Government escape its obligations to face up to its responsibilities.

The CPSU said the most critical element relating to the financial future of the company was to force the Government to pay for the cost of meeting the public service obligations of An Post.