An Post has told the Irish Postmasters' Union (IPU) it will not meet representatives unless the union can give a written guarantee that members will undertake no further unofficial industrial action.
Last week a small number of postmasters blocked Portlaoise sorting office briefly in protest at the Postpoint service which, they claim, is diverting much of their business to other retail outlets.
IPU spokesman Mr Thomas Martin said last night the executive would be meeting on Friday to consider An Post's request. Last Sunday, a mass meeting of IPU members in Portlaoise sought an immediate meeting with An Post to discuss Postpoint.
It also mandated the executive to ballot members for a national strike if An Post refused to meet the union.
Sources within the IPU were concerned that even if the union gave commitments to An Post, some members might engage in wildcat industrial action because feelings are running so high.
An Post has told IPU members it would be futile to withdraw Postpoint services from retail outlets as the major customers who made it viable, such as Eircell and Esat, would simply take their business elsewhere.
The IPU is also calling for Government intervention. It says successive governments have reneged on commitments to give more business to local post offices. About 600 of the 1,800 IPU members earn less than £5,000 a year.
A further 600 IPU members earn less than the average industrial wage. The IPU is seeking a pay rise of 12.5 per cent, on top of commitments from An Post of greater business flows. However, the same report which recommended the 12.5 per cent pay rise, also predicted losses incurred by the sub post offices would rise to £80 million by 2006.
Anne Lucey writes: Independent TD, Mr Jackie Healy-Rae, yesterday accused the Government of "closing post offices by stealth".
He rejected Minister for Public Enterprise Ms O'Rourke's statement at the weekend that the Government was fully committed to the post office network.
Last Friday, a spokeswoman for the Minister said the Government was not closing down any post office.
"She is closing them by stealth. I do not accept the Government's promises to keep the network, because the simple fact is they are closing them by stealth and by forcing people out of business."
Mr Healy-Rae repeated his call on the Government to strengthen and retain the post office network. He also repeated his threat to withdraw support from the Government unless they secured "the heart of rural Ireland".
He and the other independents were already formulating a plan of action supporting postmasters in their bid to save the post office network, he said.
"The government has completely underestimated the support there is for post offices in rural Ireland. They will pay a high price at the polls if they stand back and allow the post offices' business to be diluted and postmasters put out of business and the traditional post office closed," Mr Healy-Rae said.