Six post offices in Cork, including the GPO, were closed for business yesterday as 125 staff around the county went on strike, in sympathy with colleagues who were being relocated to another premises.
Offices in Macroom, Youghal, Cobh, Kinsale and the GPO on Oliver Plunkett Street were hit by the unofficial strike action, following a decision by management to relocate staff at Midleton PO to another building, without following proper procedures.
The vice-president of the Communications Workers Union, Mr Jerry Browne, said that while staff regretted the closure and its impact on the public, the union had no alternative in highlighting its grievance.
The CWU, which represents approximately 180,000 members, says An Post broke an agreement which was previously put forward by the Labour Relations Commission and claims that "bully-boy" tactics were used to forcibly relocate staff to another premises. Concerns were also expressed that the relocation was part of a bid to contract out post-office services, which might to lead to branch closures.
"Staff know they had to relocate because the office was in disrepair for some time and there's no problem with that, but the Post Office Division has consistently broke the Transformation Through Partnership agreement, which allows for relocation but only under the proper channels," Mr Browne said. "The workers were told on Tuesday that they had to be at a new office on Saturday, without any consultation or agreement."
Persons in receipt of allowances were directed to subsidiary offices at the Grand Parade and elsewhere throughout the county, where they were told they could collect the monies due to them. A limited service was also provided for social welfare payments at the branch offices in Midleton and Kinsale.
In a statement released yesterday, An Post condemned the action, particularly as it fell on the day social benefits were paid, and insisted the changes in Midleton were part of a cost-saving measure.
The CWU has warned the issue could escalate next week if it is not addressed, with the possibility of its members across the Republic taking unilateral action in support of their Cork colleagues.