Proposals to introduce a new starting time for Dublin postal staff of 6.30 a.m. are likely to meet strong opposition from some members of the Communications Workers' Union.
The change is an attempt to improve delivery times. However, some delegates rejected the return to an early start after having recently secured a starting time of 7 a.m.
Dublin postal branch secretary Mr Joe Guinan said the "7 a.m. start is not for sale". The members, he added, had accepted many changes in return for the later start.
Another Dublin delegate, Mr Michael Langthrop, said the 7 a.m. start was "a godsend".
Staff are being offered £750 each to revert to a 6.30 a.m. start. The same amount is being offered to workers who currently start at 6 a.m. Delegates objected to both groups being balloted together. A date has yet to be set for the ballot.