Dáil debates

Tuesday, 29 September 2015

Topical Issue Debate

Industrial Disputes

6:05 pm

Photo of Michael MoynihanMichael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Possible strike action by people contracted to work in An Post main delivery centres could bring a halt to all postal services on Thursday next as 34 maintenance delivery centre workers go on strike. I. O. Systems is contracted by An Post to maintain the postal machinery crucial to the operation of its main delivery centres in Cork, Dublin, Athlone and Portlaoise.

The long-running dispute flared up once more last week after it was reported that An Post's sub-contracted maintenance suppliers docked some of their employees' wages by as much as €2,000 or 60% for refusing to work new rosters. This is not acceptable industrial relations practice and any employer introducing reforms should exhaust all efforts to ensure that workers are consulted and that they agree, where possible, to the introduction of changes. Shockingly for workers, the company tried to change the work rosters from 12-hour to eight-hour shifts without their agreement. Such a change would result in more than a 20% cut for workers and also means some employees would have to work permanent night shifts, according to Communications Workers' Union, which represents the maintenance workers.

The company was served with strike notice by maintenance workers last week after it cut workers' wages because of their refusal to work the new roster. I ask the Minister to make a statement on the matter of great seriousness for An Post and our postal services later in the week.

6:15 pm

Photo of Alex WhiteAlex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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The issue the Deputy has raised relates, as I understand, to a third party dispute concerning a company contracted to An Post to provide maintenance services at the four An Post mails processing plants.

It would not be appropriate for me to comment on an issue which is an operational matter for the service provider company and which is also being dealt with through the normal industrial relations machinery. Should there be an industrial relations difficulty regarding the provision of services by the service provider to An Post in the future, that would be an operational matter for An Post to manage. In that regard, I understand from An Post that a contingency plan is in place should that eventuality materialise. I would hope, and expect, that all reasonable means will be used by the parties involved in this dispute to bring the matter to a satisfactory resolution as soon as possible. I would not be appropriate for me to comment any further on the matter in these circumstances.

In the wider context, the postal sector is undergoing systemic change with migration towards electronic communications resulting in significant core mail volume decline year on year. Undoubtedly, this trend places pressures on both An Post and its staff. However, it is Government policy that An Post remains a strong and viable company in a position to provide a high quality postal service. In January of this year I appointed Bobby Kerr to chair the Post Office Network Business Development Group in order to ensure the continued viability of the nationwide network of customer focused post offices. The post office network plays an important role in serving the needs of business and domestic customers alike, and this Government is committed to its retention.

Following the recent public consultation on the initial report of the Post Office Network Business Development Group, a total of 16 responses were received. These responses, along with the initial report, are published on my Department's website. The consultation responses will assist the business development group in identifying opportunities that can benefit the post office network and will inform the final report of the group which I expect later in the autumn. It is clear from the responses that were received that there is a strong public desire to maintain the nationwide network of post offices.

With regard to the mails processing plants, I am assured that An Post will ensure that its contingency plan in regard to such plants will be put in place should the eventuality arise that has been raised by the Deputy and that it will endeavour to ensure the ongoing provision of the postal service relied upon by the citizens of the country.

Photo of Michael MoynihanMichael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Two questions arise. How has a subcontractor of An Post, which is wholly owned by the State, attempted to drastically change workers' pay and conditions due to the terms of a tender and not through normal negotiating practices? Workers have had their job security eroded by the drastic cut in shift hours and pay. The workers are taking the ultimate step to strike, with the Communications Workers' Union providing financial help where necessary.

There is concern about this issue. I take the point the Minister made in respect of An Post, but I would be more reassured if he could seek the assistance of the Labour Relations Commission again to make sure that with respect to whatever issues exist between the company that is contacted by An Post and its workers, the company treats its workers fairly and makes sure that the issues are brought to a satisfactory conclusion. I understand industrial mediation attempts were made by Kevin Foley and Phil Flynn to have these issues resolved - if I am not correct on that, the Minister might advise me - and that a decision was made by the Labour Court at some stage in this regard. I ask the Minister to do all in his power to make sure that there is no issue on Thursday and that in respect of the outstanding issue between the company and its employees, who are represented by the Communications Workers' Union, they try to resolve their difficulties without having strike notice served on them or on the company.

Photo of Alex WhiteAlex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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The Deputy is correct in that I am advised that there was a Labour Court recommendation in February 2015 and it backed the implementation of the restructuring but subject to a number of amendments. I am not, nor would I in the normal run of events be, aware of the detail of the dispute or the issues in the dispute, other than that I would agree with the Deputy, or certainly I would say on my own behalf, it is important that there should always be meaningful consultation. It is important that the industrial relations machinery of the State should be availed of. That is what I hope and expect would occur in these circumstances. Beyond that, I would not, as Minister, be in a position to comment on the specifics, other than to urge the parties to ensure that they avoid an escalation of the dispute and that they do so through the available third party machinery that is in place.