AN all out strike by 500 clerical workers at An Post is likely following the rejection of a dispute settlement formula by 300 votes to 76. The An Post branch of the Civil and Public Service Union will decide today whether to opt for strike action next week. The CPSU executive yesterday sanctioned the serving of strike notice.
About 200 workers have been suspended since the union began a work to rule last week over the company's decision to recruit new secretarial staff for senior management externally.
The positions have traditionally offered promotional opportunities for CPSU members, but the company says it could not find suitable applicants. The union says the company offered different terms and conditions to outside applicants.
A spokesman for An Post said last night that a strike by CPSU members at the GPO and College House would not affect any customer services. The union says a strike would affect social welfare payments, bill payments and savings certificate transactions.