Union-management talks aimed at resolving a row that has disrupted mail deliveries in Galway are to resume today.
Representatives of An Post and the Communications Workers' Union (CWU) met at the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) yesterday to discuss the dispute over Christmas overtime arrangements.
The union has lifted its overtime ban, which had resulted in 125,000 items of mail, due to be delivered in Galway city and county, being left unsorted at the weekend.
A company spokesman said it would take three to four days to clear the backlog.
The talks at the LRC were adjourned after several hours and the parties are to meet again today.
A 24-hour national stoppage by CWU members, meanwhile, is to go ahead tomorrow, resulting in the cancellation of all mail deliveries.
The 93 post offices operated directly by An Post will close for the day, but the State's 1,400 sub-post offices will be open for business.
The union's general secretary, Mr Steve Fitzpatrick, issued a statement yesterday to counter "misleading information" about the reasons for the day of action.
He said it had been organised to secure payment of increases due to An Post's staff and pensioners under Sustaining Progress since November 2003, and to seek an "honest and open public debate" on the future of the postal service.