Up to 1,000 jobs in Ireland could be lost if European Commission proposals to liberalise the postal market throughout Europe are implements by 2009 as planned, the Communications Workers' Union (CWU) has claimed.
More than 80 main post offices around the State were closed for an hour at lunchtime yesterday as part of a protest by the group of unions at An Post against the commission's plans. Similar actions took place throughout Europe.
In a statement last night, the Department of Communications said the Government supported liberalisation of the postal network.
Seán McDonagh, CWU national officer, said that the introduction of the current proposals, without any safeguards, "would lead to the destruction of the universal services obligation which ensures all citizens get daily deliveries at a uniform price".
"The commission directive in its current format would remove all protections from traditional postal operators by January 1st, 2009, but makes no provision for funding to secure a universal postal service at an affordable price to all customers wherever they live," he said.
The trade unions at An Post fear that private operators entering the market would "cherry pick" lucrative delivery areas, leaving the company to deal with less profitable routes.
"If somebody can deliver mail just in Dublin 4 where it is highly profitable and easy to do, that is unfair competition, particularly if they do not have an obligation to deliver anywhere else," Mr McDonagh said.
He estimated that up to 1,000 jobs could be lost in Ireland if the market liberalisation plans went ahead and that in addition conditions of employment at An Post would be eroded.
He also maintained that there would also be a serious reduction in postal services nationwide.
The Department of Communications said that if the market was liberalised, the universal service obligation "would be maintained as a cornerstone of the market to ensure that everyone in the country has access to the postal network at a reasonable cost".