An Post Demands Changes Already Paid For

22 March 2004

The suspensions, which include 9 drivers, took place when they refused to follow instructions from supervisors to continue to carry out work which has been part of their normal duties for more than a year.

The dispute will cause increasing disruption of the mails services in Dublin and surrounding counties unless the CWU comes to its senses and lifts is instruction to staff at the Dublin Mail Centre.

“The CWU instruction to staff not to continue to work as normal typifies the attitude of the Union which is willing to accept payment up-front for change but then refuses arbitrarily to deliver on the productivity involved,” said Larry Donald for An Post.

Mr Donald, the Director of Corporate and Regulatory Affairs, said the experience in An Post was that the CWU did not deliver on its agreement on the introduction of automation or an agreement on post office conversions.

“In the case of automation, the company invested more than €100 million in new sorting systems, created 300 new jobs and completed a productivity agreement for the implementation of the system.

“Similarly the union pocketed a payment of 12.5 per cent for a programme to convert 50 company offices to sub offices but has since refused to allow but three office conversions,” Mr Donald said.

He added “The union began talks with the company on Collection and Delivery arrangements in November but walked away in December because not enough money was on the table. Repeated efforts to get them back have failed.”

“It is evident that in recent weeks there has been a serious lack of focus with in the CWU. Whatever the attraction of other events the CWU needs to concentrate on the problems at An Post which has been hit by a series of unofficial actions in recent weeks.

“These actions have been designed to harass management as a lead in to major industrial action and pressure An Post to pay the terms of Sustaining Progress even through it lost €40 million in 2003 and is clearly unable to do so without real productivity,” Mr Donald said.