Talks have adjourned tonight between representatives of An Post sub-contractor IO Systems and the Communications Workers Union in their bid to resolve the dispute that led to four days of disruption to the national postal service.
Representatives of An Post sub-contractor IO Systems and the Communications Workers Union had agreed to attend negotiations overseen by independent mediator Phil Flynn.
Having started at 5pm this evening the talks adjourned after four hours when Mr Flynn instructed the parties to examine their positions.
RTÉ News understands that Mr Flynn expects to reconvene the talks at some time before the weekend.
Arriving earlier for the talks in Dublin, IO Systems managing director Fergal Lynam said he hoped outstanding issues could be resolved and that any matters unresolved could be referred to the Labour Court for a binding resolution.
He said the dispute had been continuing for over two and a half years and it was very regrettable that the postal service had been affected for the last four days.
Mr Lynam added that he hoped a resolution could be reached in the next few days, after which the parties could move on and relationships would hopefully improve.
CWU national officer Sean McDonagh said the union would enter the discussions in a very positive manner and would be responsible and professional.
He said that if the talks do not resolve the matter, then they may have to go to the Labour Court.
However, he confirmed that the outcome of the process mediated by Mr Flynn will be put to a ballot of members before any move to go to the Labour Court.
Yesterday, the CWU agreed to suspend industrial action at IO Systems, whose workers had been on strike since midnight on Thursday last week over pay for sub-contract workers at An Post mail centres.
