An Post braces itself for strike

Management and unions at An Post are bracing themselves for the start of industrial action tomorrow despite the intervention of the Government's partnership watchdog in the dispute.

The National Implementation Body (NIB) invited both parties to separate talks at Government Buildings yesterday.

The body wants to broker a way out of the impasse with a two-week notice for strike action lapsing tomorrow afternoon.

The threatened strike by 8,500 Communications Workers' Union (CWU) members is over the company's refusal to pay the full increases due under the partnership agreement, Sustaining Progress.

The Labour Court recommended in July that the increases be paid provided postal staff agreed to a range of work practice changes in the company's collection and delivery service.

This was accepted by An Post but rejected by the union, which says the pay increases and work practice changes are separate issues and should not be linked.

The CWU represents about nine-tenths of the company's workers.

Sean McDonagh, CWU national officer, described yesterday's talks with the NIB as "very much exploratory", adding that the union would announce shortly the details of its planned industrial action.

He stressed there would no threat to postal deliveries tomorrow. Beyond that guarantees could not be given, however.

The NIB is due to contact both parties today with possible proposals for averting the planned strike. The body met each party for about two hours yesterday and adjourned just before 7pm.

Minister for Communications Noel Dempsey, who had sought the intervention of the NIB, has called for the reform of "archaic practices" at An Post to ready it for competition.