Proposals aimed at resolving the dispute between An Post and the Irish Postmasters Union (IPU) over the opening of certain post offices on the Saturdays of Bank Holiday's have been put to the union, the High Court has been told.
The court heard that the proposals would go before a meeting of the executive committee of the IPU this evening and that it might be necessary to consult with the union membership in relation to an aspect of the proposals.
On May 17th last, An Post was granted a High Court order restraining 43 postmasters/postmistresses from closing their post offices on the Saturday of the June bank holiday weekend.
The 43 — out of a total of 1,400 — had closed their offices on the Saturday of the Easter bank holiday weekend.
Granting the order Mr Justice Kelly said the issue of the obligation of postmasters and sub-postmasters to open their offices or not on a Saturday of a public holiday was a vexed one between the parties.
Mr Tom Mallon, for An Post, said the company was claiming all postmasters/postmistresses were obliged under contract to open their premises for five and a half days each week.
The half day could reflect local custom but with one exception - UCD, Belfield - they all had to open for at least a half day on Saturdays, he said.
In an affidavit, An Post's head of contractors, Mr John Dunleavy, said certain social welfare recipients who usually received benefits on a Monday might, with the consent of the Minister for Social Welfare, be paid on the preceding Saturday where a public holiday fell on that Monday.
When the case came before Mr Justice Kelly yesterday, Mr Anthony Kerr, for the IPU, said discussions had taken place and proposals had been put to the union's solicitors on Thursday last.
Mr Justice Kelly adjourned the case for two weeks with the injunction remaining in place.