asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware of the great hardship and inconvenience being caused to the people of Dún Laoghaire arising from the dispute between his Department and the members of the Dún Laoghaire Branch of the POWU; the action, if any, he intends taking to have postal deliveries resumed immediately; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dún Laoghaire Postal Service Dispute.
12.
I am aware of, and I very much regret, the hardship and inconvenience caused to the public in the Dún Laoghaire area by the interruption of postal services there on two days last week and one day this week. Normal services were resumed on Tuesday, the 27th.
The background to the interruption of services is that postmen in Dún Laoghaire took unofficial industrial action by refusing to deliver telephone directories. Such deliveries are made on completion of normal duty and are paid for at overtime rates. Representatives of the postmen in Dún Laoghaire said that they were unwilling to make the number of deliveries per hour which the Department proposed and which was the same as the number per hour being delivered in the Dublin Postal District.
They were told that the delivery rates would be tested by the Department during the course of work, the results discussed with the local union branch, and any changes found to be necessary would be made. As the postmen persisted in their refusal to deliver the directories, a number of them were suspended from duty on the 22nd April. Other members of the staff then stopped work. The suspensions were lifted on an undertaking that the delivery of the directories would be made. The tests already referred to will be carried out.
Is the Minister aware of the strained staff relations between Dún Laoghaire branch of the Post Office Workers' Union and the Department of Posts and Telegraphs? Is the Minister further aware that this strain has been in existence since approximately May, 1973? The Minister is aware, of course, that there was also difficulty at Christmas time with the postal deliveries in the Dún Laoghaire area. Would the Minister tell the House how this dispute arose and how the dispute came to be resolved? Is the Minister aware that I put down a question at 11 o'clock on Monday morning and the dispute was announced to have been resolved at 11.30 that night?
I think that the public generally and, in particular, the residents of Dún Laoghaire will be pleased that this unofficial strike has been called off and that normal services have been resumed and that they will not wish me to go over the history of this unofficial dispute in any manner that might tend to a breakdown of services again. I would like to suggest to Deputies on both sides of the House that where unofficial disputes occur it is not wise, not helpful and not in the public interest, to suggest that these unofficial disputes have good reasons behind them and to seem to suggest that their renewal would be justified.
That seems very like the Establishment line.
A brief supplementary, Deputy, please.
On the basis that the Minister has trotted out the official Government line in relation to this matter, it is quite clear that the Minister must be aware——
I am anxious for the co-operation of Deputies to make some progress at Question Time today.
Is it the Minister's intention to hold an inquiry into the staff relations which exist between the Department of Posts and Telegraphs and the Dún Laoghaire Branch of the Post Office Workers' Union and is the Minister aware that this strain between the Department and these men has been in existence for quite a number of years?
Order, order. I must call the next question if the Deputy ceases to disobey the Chair.
Did the Chair hear Deputy Andrews say that the Minister was not telling the truth to the House?
I did not.
In my view the Deputy said that the Minister was not telling the truth to the House. I take it that Deputy Andrews does not deny that he made that statement. If that statement was made, I trust that the Chair will take suitable steps——
If the Chair had heard the remark, it would have called for its withdrawal. It is not in order to impute to any Member of this House that he told a lie. Question No. 13.
Does the Minister intend appointing an independent arbitrator to examine the staff relations?
Order. Question No. 13.
In view of the unsatisfactory reply to my question, it is my intention to request you to allow me to raise this matter on the Adjournment.
I will communicate with the Deputy in relation to the matter.