asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the steps he proposes to take to end the postmen's dispute in Sligo and other centres.
Ceisteann—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sligo Postmen's Dispute.
48.
Postmen at Sligo are taking unofficial industrial action at present by way of a ban on Saturday working and overtime. The action is stated to be in support of the cessation of postal deliveries in Sligo on Saturdays with a view to enabling delivery postmen to be given a Monday to Friday five-day week. Apart altogether from the reduction in service that would be involved, this claim is in conflict with an agreement between my Department and the Post Office Workers' Union, which represents postmen, on a five-day week for postmen outside Dublin and Dún Laoghaire. The agreement provides for the introduction of a five-day week on a staggered basis and for maintaining Monday to Saturday delivery services. Schemes in conformity with the agreement have been introduced for a substantial number of postmen. A similar scheme has been offered to the Sligo postmen but has been rejected by them.
My Department is in constant touch with the union about the dispute. I would prefer, at this stage, to say no more than this, but I would again strongly urge the postmen concerned to be sensible and to call off their present action, continuation of which can only cause even more serious inconvenience and hardship to the public than has been experienced up to now.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that this dispute has been going on for the past five weeks and that no action has been taken by the Department and that all these postmen want—and they have put up with some hardship as well as the general public——
I hope the Deputy will avoid making statements.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that what the postmen in Sligo and other centres throughout the country want is the same five-day week operation as is operated for the postmen in Dublin and area? And why cannot that be agreed to by the Department?
I am aware of the duration of the dispute but I cannot agree with the Deputy's inference that nothing has been done by the Department. As I have already said, the Department have been in constant touch with the trade union concerned.
How soon does the Parliamentary Secretary think this matter will be resolved in view of the fact that there will be an extra amount of correspondence in the next three weeks? Is the Minister aware that it takes a week now to get a letter posted and delivered in Sligo town?
It would not be possible for anyone to foretell the duration of a dispute of this nature. I indicated in the reply, when asking the postmen to return to work, the concern of the Minister for the inconvenience that is being caused to the public.
I hope he can resolve it soon.
The Deputy should be aware that the trade union concerned and the Department are making every possible effort to resolve the situation and I would hope the Deputy would add his influence to the pleas made by the Minister——
I have done so. I was the only one who bothered. I had to bring it to your notice, if you want to know.
——for a return to work.
The Department were not a bit concerned about it. They could not care less until we brought it to their notice. Both the union and the Department were ignoring the men, if you want to have it all.
Unlike the Deputy, I do not presume to be in a position to negotiate better on behalf of postmen than their own trade union.
You were trying to make yourself bigger than all of them. You cannot just answer the question; you want to go that little bit further.
Let us not raise the temperature on this matter.
The thing is not resolved yet.
(Interruptions.)
The Chair is calling Question No. 49.