An Post staff vote to accept new pay deal

Staff in An Post have voted to accept a new pay deal which will provide for a 2.5 per cent pay increase with effect from the beginning of this month.

Negotiations between unions and management at the State-owned postal company will continue on a second phase of increases which would involve rises of up to 3.5 per cent to take effect from July 2017, or earlier by agreement. The second phase increase is expected to be met by a 50:50 split between savings delivered by changes to working arrangements and company contributions.

The deal was accepted by 57 per cent of staff in a ballot involving three unions with members at the company.

The general secretary of the Communications Workers' Union Steve Fitzpatrick, said: "It is work in progress for An Post and their unions towards a total pay claim of 6 per cent." He said a Labour Court's recommendation was clear that further negotiations must take place on the funding of a second phase increase for postal workers.

Meanwhile, unions at Dublin Bus rejected a proposal in talks at the Workplace Relations Commission for increases of 8 per cent over four years for its 3,400 staff. The issue is expected to be referred back to the Labour Court.