Disruption to the State's postal service moved a step closer today when workers at An Post voted in favour of industrial action.
Members of the Communications Workers Union (CWU) voted 90 per cent in favour of action "up to and including strike". The union today served management with the mandatory two weeks' notice.
An Post statement
Management and workers have had a fractious relationship for some time over the company's efforts to restructure in the face of declining demand and high losses.
An Post
today issued a statement this afternoon describing the decision as "irresponsible, unnecessary and unfair". The company said customers would be inconvenienced an jobs jeopardised as a result.
"The reality is that An Post has been forced to confront a serious onslaught of lies, service sabotage and obstruction by the CWU. This utterly cynical action is specifically designed to damage the company, its business and its reputation.
"The national postal service can no longer be held to ransom by a union whose only focus is resistance to change and the preservation of a self-serving overtime culture," the statement said.
The action is being taken over the company's failure to pay increases and pensioners cost-of-living increases due under Sustaining Progress. The CWU has rejected a Labour Court ruling linking the increases to the introduction of cost-saving measures the company says are necessary for its future viability.
The company is seeking a number of changes to work practices in an effort to save €60 million annually and pointed out today it was willing to abide by the Labour Court recommendation on condition the union did likewise.
The CWU has complained of worker intimidation and today claimed the vote based on a 90 per cent turnout was "particularly impressive given the fact that every effort was made by management in the company to interfere with the process by bribing staff with 10,000 hours in overtime and by interfering with the union process by writing directly to members at their homes".
Steve Fitzpatrick, CWU general secretary
Steve Fitzpatrick, general secretary of CWU, said: "This overwhelming result reflects the widespread anger and frustration of low-paid postal workers at An Post who have neither faith nor confidence in An Post management.
"The CWU has today declared its intention to defend its members against an incompetent, unprofessional and belligerent management which had wreaked havoc with the national postal service and breached every agreement it has made."
He also criticised Minister for Communications Noel Dempsey, saying he had "abandoned and demoralised" the workforce. The Minster last week threatened to end An Post's monopoly position in letter post delivery.
Sinn Féin communications spokesperson Sean Crowe said Mr Demspey should use the two weeks available to intervene.
He said the company's embargo on employing new workers despite 600 people having left recently had damaged the service and caused hardship for those whose welfare cheques were arriving late.
"I am calling on the Minister to stop shirking his responsibilities and move to prevent the workers from being forced into strike action. Ultimately the responsibility will rest with this Government," Mr Crowe said.
Labour's Tommy Broughan also urged Mr Demspey to become involved and said a strike would present "a dismal prospect for householders and businesses in the run up to the busy pre-Christmas period".
"It is quite clear that in a situation such as at An Post when 90 per cent per cent of a workforce votes 90 per cent in favour of strike action that there are very serious problems to be addressed," he said adding that a complete shutdown looms unless immediate action is taken.