Workers at centre of An Post dispute back settlement plan

IO Systems staff back proposals in their dispute over rostering arrangements and pay

Workers at the centre of a dispute at An Post which recently led to a suspension of postal services have voted to back settlement proposals.

Workers at IO Systems who maintain and service mail sorting equipment at four An Post mail sorting centres on Saturday voted in favour of settlement proposals in their dispute over rostering arrangements and pay which the company wanted to impose.

The proposals, worked out with the assistance of industrial relations mediator Phil Flynn, were backed in the ballot by 23 to 5.

Communications Workers' Union general secretary Steve Fitzpatrick said the workers had delivered a "strong vote" in support of the settlement proposals.

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“This settlement includes revised agreed shift patterns and changes to pay levels, including shift premiums,” he said.

Workers who had stuck to their previously agreed rosters would be paid for the work they did, he said.

"There is one outstanding matter that we have agreed should be referred to the Labour Court on the level of shift premium that should prevail from September 2016.

“We are satisfied that the recent negotiations have delivered a fair result. However, we are disappointed that the implications of the dispute for the public were unnecessarily escalated by the actions of An Post mail management.”

Peter Smyth

Peter Smyth is a digital production journalist at The Irish Times