Service Disruption is irresponsible, unnecessary and unfair

21 October 2005

Disruption of the national postal service by members of the Communications’ Workers Union is grossly irresponsible and unnecessary. It will only inconvenience customers, further damage An Post’s business and seriously jeopardise jobs.

A Labour Court recommendation, already accepted in full by the company, allows for full payment of the terms of Sustaining Progress, as well as significant productivity/change payments, in return for long-overdue cessation of outdated, inflexible, overtime-ridden work practices in An Post’s mail collection and delivery operation.

A proposal that the CWU end their ban on the Company’s hiring of casual staff in Dublin so that An Post can counteract high levels of delivery staff absenteeism has been long-fingered the union, despite their hollow cries of concern about quality of service.

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.

That the country is being forced to deal with postal service disruption during the busiest weeks of the year for Irish companies underlines the failure of the CWU leadership to fully grasp or accept the serious business realities facing An Post.

Their approach shows a complete lack of interest in customers, the company and institutions such as the Labour Court who have devoted so much time and so many resources to the resolution of the serious issues facing An Post and its workforce.

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.