An Post Strike to go ahead from Monday
national |
worker & community struggles and protests |
news report 
Saturday November 05, 2005 21:12
by Paul Kinsella - CPSU Activist And An Post Worker (Strictly Personal Capacity!)!
paulkinsella53 at yahoo dot com
53 Lorcan Grove, Santry, Dublin 9, Eire
0851478100
The strike by members of the Communications Workers Union (CWU) in An Post is to go ahead from Monday after last-ditch talks facilitated through the National Implementation Body (NIB) to avert planned strike action ended without a breakthrough. Pickets will be placed on the GPO in Dublin from Midnight Sunday, meaning the GPO will be closed, and a nationwide overtime ban will also come into effect.
Things are slightly complicated by the fact, that, at the moment, only the CWU will be on strike from Monday. However many members of the other 3 unions representing An Post workers, the CPSU, PSEU and AHCPS have said that they will refuse to cross any picket lines, thus raising the prospect of suspensions, and a very rapid escalation of the dispute.
Comments (7 of 7)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7Is this initially a strike on overtime but as you suggesting it's likely to become a full blown strike pretty quickly?
Just heard on the rqadio that the CWU are going back into talks. Some "Independent" mediators are doing costings of changes in work practises.
"An Post talks resume at NIB
06 November 2005 11:51
Hopes have been raised that industrial action by postal workers, scheduled to go ahead from midnight tonight, might be averted.
It is understood the action could be put off if mediators in the dispute are given independent costings on proposed changes to terms of employment.
Talks between An Post management and the Communications Workers' Union have resumed with the mediator, the National Implementation Body.
The CWU had announced an overtime ban and closure of selected mail centres which would cause serious disruption to the mail service.
The dispute centres on pay increases due for the past two years under Sustaining Progress.
The company says it will not pay the increases unless collection and delivery staff agree to changes in work practices aimed at cutting the company's overtime costs."
Its difficult to see how "independent" consultants will come up with a plan that doesnt entail major work changes on the part of postal workers. I wonder what the CWU Burocrats are up to?
"CWU to consider An Post strike plans
06 November 2005 17:29
The Communications Workers Union says it is calling an emergency meeting to consider a request to call off a postal strike due to start at midnight.
The move follows talks at the National Implementation body aimed at resolving the dispute at An Post.
Both the CWU and An Post management have accepted a proposal for an independent financial review of the company's restructuring plan.
The union say it is convening a meeting of its disputes committee as soon as possible to consider suspending its nationwide campaign of industrial action.
The CWU had announced a ban on overtime and the closure of selected mail centres from tomorrow. An Post said the industrial action would cause serious disruption to services and has advised customers not to send mail until further notice.
The dispute centres on pay increases due for the past two years under Sustaining Progress.
The company says it will not pay the increases unless collection and delivery staff agree to changes in work practices aimed at cutting the company's overtime costs."
Just heard that An Post have outsourced 30 call centre jobs based in the GPO to a place in Cork. They are blaming breach of an agreement during yesterdays short stoppage.
Methinks they are looking for the CWU to walk into traps they are setting. Looks like they are fighting dirty.
The management of An Post had tried to bring the company and its staff to its knees so it can be sold off cheap and another part of the foundation of the state will be out of the hands of the people of Ireland. Maybe Royal Mail will buy it and then the British will have control of the GPO once again. The last time that happened it took a gunboat. this time it is taking the senior management team. The senior management team whom most of them came from the ESB and boy where they glad to see the back of them. The were failures there and hopefully for the people of Ireland failures again with their distruction of An Post.
Unions are not always right but this time the cwu seem to be the only people trying to SAVE YOUR POST OFFICE. Dont forget that when you vote next year, it might be to late by then but lets hope not.
Hi, you can keep upto date with the dispute at An Post, by visiting the Communications Workers Union news site. Thanks
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