Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 308: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the issues which have caused recent and ongoing disputes in An Post and his proposals to address these issues at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34956/05]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

An Post has been through one of the most intensive industrial relations processes imaginable. At this stage, the dispute at An Post has been before every industrial relations body in the State.

Following the 14 day notice of industrial action served on the company by the Communications Workers Union, which expired on Friday, 4 November, the National Implementation Body at my request has engaged with both sides to the dispute in An Post and is aware that there are significant differences of understanding between the parties regarding the cost and implications of amendments proposed by the union to changes in the collection and delivery sector recommendations made by the Labour Court in July this year.

The National Implementation Body considered that clarifications of the costs and implications of the proposed union amendments are essential to facilitating a resolution of the dispute. On this basis the National Implementation Body has secured the assistance of a firm of accountants to carry out an independent examination into how much it would cost the company to accede to the union's amendments.

In light of the developments in the National Implementation Body, the Communications Workers Union agreed to a request by the National Implementation Body to defer industrial action until the examination has taken place. The industrial action which took place on Monday, 7 November, the national overtime ban and the strike at the GPO, has been called off. I considered this to be a positive step in the current climate.

The National Implementation Body met yesterday with the management side and the Communications Workers Union and has indicated that the process initiated in conjunction with the accountants would be finalised today. The body proposes to meet with the parties this evening and has requested that the parties refrain from comment and treat the accountants' report as confidential for a period of 24 hours after it is presented.

I have taken a very even handed approach throughout the dispute and have meet with all parties including the chairperson, the board, the management and the unions, at key intervals so as to be informed of the critical issues on both sides. The company needs to introduce modern work practices if it is to thrive in a competitive environment. I want to see An Post, an Irish company, delivering a high quality postal service to the Irish people. To enable the company to provide this service, the archaic work practices, that the workers themselves have acknowledged are such, need to be changed.

No blame is being placed on one side or the other. I have stated the facts as they are and the history in An Post over the past ten years has not been great. I now hope that both parties take the opportunity afforded to them through the National Implementation Body to resolve outstanding issues. Business and consumers are entitled to the high quality postal service which the company and its employees are well capable of delivering.