The likelihood of a pre-Christmas postal strike is set to become clearer today after the Labour Court issues a recommendation concerning the dispute at An Post.
A meeting of the executive committee of the Communications Workers' Union (CWU) has been scheduled for 4pm to consider the court's recommendation. A union ballot on the court's findings could be completed by Friday, which leaves open the possibility of industrial action at the company resuming by the weekend.
The CWU's 8,500 members in An Post have already voted to strike over the company's refusal to pay them the full terms of Sustaining Progress.
They began industrial action a fortnight ago, but deferred it after just 18 hours following an intervention by the National Implementation Body (NIB).
The NIB in turn referred the matter to the Labour Court, which held intensive discussions with the parties over the weekend.
The court has previously recommended that the company pay the Sustaining Progress increases provided the union signs up to a major rationalisation of collection and delivery services.
This was rejected by the union, which argues that the pay increases and rationalisation are separate issues and should not be linked.
The union wants the court to recommend today that the Sustaining Progress terms be paid in full regardless of the rationalisation programme.
The CWU is committed to balloting its members on the court's findings. It is free, however, to recommend either acceptance or rejection.
Ballot papers are already prepared, and the vote could be concluded within three days if the union deems it necessary.
Should members reject the court's recommendation industrial action could resume immediately as the union believes it is not required to serve notice on the company.
This is because it already served notice of the action it began two weeks ago, which was merely suspended following the NIB's intervention.
If the union's executive decides today to recommend acceptance of the recommendation it could decide to extend the period of the ballot beyond Friday.
That in turn would lift any threat of industrial action for the immediate future.
Retired CWU members, whose pensions are linked to the pay of existing staff, are also caught up in the dispute. The union is demanding that they receive outstanding pay increases immediately.
