Dispute halts postal deliveries in parts of Ireland

Representatives of the Irish postal service, An Post, and the Communication Workers' Union will meet tomorrow under the wing of the Labour Relations Commission for talks aimed at ending industrial action that has halted deliveries in some areas.

The dispute, which centres on how mail is handled at the Dublin Mails Centre, has escalated with a further 88 staff suspended since last night. This brings the total number of mail workers suspended to over 500.

The dispute has led to widespread disruption of postal services in the Dublin area and adjacent counties Louth, Meath, Monaghan and Wicklow.

An Post this morning said that there would be some deliveries in Dublin and affected areas, but repeated warnings about posting mail in the capital.

An Post have said that areas affected by the dispute include: Dublin City and County; Bray; Carrickmacross; Castleblaney; Drogheda; Dundalk; Greystones; Kells; Navan; Tuam; and Wicklow.

In a statement today, An Post said special arrangements would be put in place with and the Department of Social and Family Affairs (DSFA) to ensure that people continue to receive their Social Welfare payments during the dispute.

In the areas affected, DSFA welfare cheques will be available for collection from Wednesday at local and branch DSFA offices. Customers can collect their cheque on the day following their normal payment day. Cheques for addresses outside the areas affected will be delivered as normal. DSFA payments at Post Office counters in all parts of the country are unaffected.

However, the company said that all inbound and outbound international mail (including Northern Ireland) has "ceased until further notice" as have all business mail collections in the affected areas.

The Taoiseach Bertie Ahern stated yesterday that neither the country nor the postal service could afford a dispute.

(SP)