An Post has rejected criticism of its decision, which comes into effect today, to allow postal workers sort mail at their homes in order to circumvent a dispute with the Irish Postmasters' Union (IPU).
A spokesman for the company described as "ludicrous" suggestions that the move had legal or security implications. "The inference is that post workers are somehow less responsible, or can't be trusted with mail in their homes. That's nonsense."
The Communications Workers' Union (CWU), which represents post workers, had agreed the arrangement with An Post after the IPU said its members would be closing down its rural sorting offices each Monday and Friday, starting from today, in pursuance of a pay claim against the company.
The IPU represents 540 rural postmasters and postmistresses in the dispute. It said their average annual salary was around €18,000, although some were being paid as little as €6,500 a year.
IPU general secretary Mr John Kane criticised the CWU for helping An Post in the dispute. He admitted the decision to close down the sorting offices affected post workers but, he said, "you can't make an omelette without breaking some eggs.
"The alternative is to close down post offices entirely but that would cause chaos and inconvenience for social welfare recipients and pensioners in rural Ireland. We would have a huge PR exercise trying to justify that."
Fine Gael TD Mr Michael Ring also criticised the contingency plan, saying there would be "legal difficulties" if mail went missing at workers' homes.
"I am not saying postmen are dishonest. I just don't like public mail in a private house. There are certain dangers to it," he said.
"I mean, if we have a bank strike tomorrow should we take the money to the bank manager's home?"
Defending the arrangement, however, CWU national officer Mr Steve Fitzpatrick said: "Security is never raised when our members are driving with the post down a lonely boreen, or when they're sorting the post in the back of a shop, or in a toilet, or on top of a fridge, as they have to do in these small, rural offices."
He said the IPU was looking for postal workers to fight its fight when they were facing pay cuts, if not job losses, as a result of the closures. "It's like the Independent having an argument with Tony O'Reilly and expecting The Irish Times to stop printing," he remarked.
"Our members are being locked out. The postmasters aren't taking any of the pain. They're operating their shops or newsagents at the front door as normal but locking us out at the back."
He added the deal with An Post was entered into "reluctantly" despite the fact that workers would receive additional remuneration.
Mr Ring called on the Minister for Communications, Mr Ahern, to intervene in the dispute to ensure both sides engaged in talks.
But a spokesman for the Minister said the dispute was solely a matter for the company and the unions involved.
An Post said that because of the contingency arrangements, it expected "little to no" disruption to deliveries.
