POSTAL deliveries will take place as usual this morning, following the resolution of the dispute at the Dublin Mail Centre. An Post management and union representatives agreed a settlement formula just six hours ahead of last night's strike deadline.
A central component of the settlement is that both sides agree to a review of industrial relations at the DMC by the Labour Relations Commission. This will be conducted by the chief executive of the LRC, Mr Kieran Mulvey, and senior industrial relations officer, Mr Tom Pomphrett.
Meanwhile, the company has agreed to withdraw its letter of July 10th, threatening the Communications Workers' Union branch secretary at the DMC, Mr Brian Shanny, with disciplinary action. It is also restoring recognition of him as a union representative. The letter is to be expunged from the records.
For its part, the union withdrew its threat of strike action, due to begin at midnight in the DMC.
At a press conference last night Mr Mulvey said that "to resolve the issues currently in dispute would merely patch over the situation and do nothing to resolve the very real difficulties that exist.
The commission will assist both sides in resolving current difficulties at the DMC and go on to carry out at full review of industrial relations and working practices by the end of September.
In the meantime, "both parties should ensure that normal procedures are adhered to fully and no precipitate action should take place". Mr Mulvey paid tribute to Mr Pomphrett's role in averting the dispute and said the LRC was pleased both sides had accepted its proposals.
Mr Shanny said the letter had been an attempt "to confuse my trade union record with my disciplinary record". He was proud of his unblemished disciplinary record of 38 years and glad the letter had been removed from the record.
The general secretary of the CWU, Mr David Begg, said it was "a dispute which should never have happened". It was the worst case of trade union victimisation he had encountered in 17 years.
A company spokesman said An Post was "delighted that the strike has been averted at the DMC. Our priority was to look after the customer and that objective has been achieved".
However, the Small Firms' Association, and the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises' association, both condemned the company and ISME said that the chief executive of An Post, Mr John Hynes should resign. The SMA said that thousands of part time jobs had been put at risk by the dispute.
Meanwhile, in Britain the government is threatening to end the Post Office monopoly on letters if industrial action over new work practices continues.