An all-out strike at An Post remains on hold today following a meeting of the Communications Workers' Union (CWU) executive.
However, the dispute is no nearer resolution following failed talks at the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) yesterday.
Workers voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike last year but the action was deferred as management and unions sought a resolution to a dispute over restructuring the debt-ridden company.
Matters came to a head in the early hours of last Saturday morning when workers at the main sorting centre in Dublin declined to follow work practices they claimed had not been agreed.
Over 60 workers were suspended with further suspensions throughout this week leading to 850 workers taken off duty.
An Post began sealing postboxes yesterday as services in many areas around the State were disrupted. The CWU accused the company of provoking confrontation and today called on the company to reinstate staff and resume services.
CWU national officer Mr Sean McDonagh said: "We want to see the general public and businesses getting their mail again as normal. This means getting people back to work and getting the post out again.
The CWU will do nothing to facilitate An Post management who seem intent on shutting down the national postal service. The company's action of suspending workers has continually escalated this dispute."
The union also called on the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Mr Dermot Ahern, to clarify his position on the dispute.
Mr Ahern today called on both sides to maintain contact with the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) after separate talks broke up last night with little movement on either side. He said "every effort must be made to restore services to the consumer" while noting that a resolution must take account of the company's financial plight.
An Post is asking customers not to post to or from Dublin city and county, Bray, Carrickmacross, Castleblayney, Drogheda, Dundalk, Kells, Greystones, Navan, Tuam and Wicklow.
Postboxes in Drogheda have been sealed for a number of weeks because of an unofficial dispute concerning overtime.