I wish to share my time with Deputy Costello.
Adjournment Debate. - An Post Industrial Dispute.
Is that agreed? Agreed.
I thank the Minister for Enterprise and Employment, Deputy Bruton, for coming to the House to deal with an industrial dispute at An Post. The background to this problem is that a unilateral decision was made at senior management level of An Post to recruit externally for four senior secretaries. Approximately 20 internal staff applied for the jobs and I understand one was successful. The salaries of these senior secretaries are approximately £100 more than the people with whom they are working. The jobs were advertised as clerical assistant-typists, but are being paid as clerical officer-typist. The advertising process was not transparent and the workers believe it was dishonest.
The level of anger among the work-force is apparent from their decision to take strike action. The low paid workers are concerned about their prospects of promotion and are angry at the way management has dealt with this issue. This shambles has resulted in 260 workers being suspended today and the likelihood of an all-out strike from 5 p.m. tomorrow by 430 employees.
The behaviour of senior management in this case has been deplorable. I support change at An Post, the introduction of new technology and automation, but this should take place in consultation with workers and their trade unions. The fact that there is a prospect of 480 people going on strike is a sad indictment of the type of senior management at An Post. Senior management has acted in a dictatorial manner in taking unilateral decisions on recruitment outside agreed procedures. This will result in serious disruption to many essential services provided by An Post, such as savings certificates and bonds, bill payments for gas and telephone and other services. The prospect of disruption to social welfare payments will have devastating consequences for thousands of social welfare recipients. The behaviour of senior management is totally unacceptable. Management should bring staff with them when implementing changes, rather than acting in such a way as to invite conflict.
The Minister should intervene to ensure that management follows normal industrial relations procedures, restores confidence and morale among the work-force and ensures that this all-out strike, which will have devastating consequences for the employees and for the public, does not take place. We, on this side of the House, are aware of many outstanding problems at An Post and we know that blame can be placed on both sides in many disputes. Steady progress is being made on many issues. It is a pity this matter has grown to this level and that an issue involving four people could mean that 480 people will go on strike. I call on the Minister to intervene directly to ensure this conflict goes no further.
I thank Deputy Kitt for sharing his time with me. The Civil and Public Service Union has served seven days' notice on An Post with effect from tomorrow at 5 p.m. The first protest action will take place at the GPO on Saturday and picketing will resume on Tuesday, 7 May. The industrial action arises from a dispute over the filling of four secretarial posts, which were previously internal promotion opportunities. Only one of the present appointments is an internal appointment and three are external. The appointments were made at a different point on the scale than previous similar appointments. There was no consultation, negotiation or agreement with the CPSU on the appointments or the procedures for the appointments.
It appears that An Post is seeking to establish a two tier appointment and payments system, depending on the separation of internal and external appointment procedures. As a result, over 200 members of the union are currently off the payroll and there is a danger that the dispute will escalate into an all-out strike not only for the 430 people who will be immediately affected, but also for other An Post employees. Proper promotion procedures must be adhered to because that is a basic principle of industrial relations and workers' rights.
An Post is making considerable profits with the co-operation of the unions and the workers. There is ongoing rationalisation but there must not be unilateral developments. Management also has its responsibilities. I call on management to bring about an urgent settlement to this dispute which could escalate into an all-out strike and affect a huge number of services and people throughout the country. It could also jeopardise any future good relationship between the workers and the management of An Post.
Over recent years An Post has been bedevilled by industrial disputes. Will the Minister indicate today whether progress is being made to resolve this dispute?
I thank the two Deputies for raising this issue. Everyone shares their concerns about the potential impact of this dispute. Approximately 400 administrative staff, members of CPSU, based in headquarters at the GPO and in College House are in dispute with management over the filling of secretarial posts for senior managers in the company. A range of complicated issues are involved.
An Post initially advertised the vacancies internally and then externally. The interview panel established for the competition was chaired by an independent person and selected two candidates, from An Post and one from outside it. The central feature of the dispute is that CPSU is of the view that the candidate appointed from outside the company is being paid more than the internal appointee. The CPSU contends also that the external candidate was appointed to a different grade from the internal appointee. The company's position is that the rate of pay is the same for both candidates and the salaries of the successful candidates are in keeping with their level of experience. Management and CPSU negotiators held direct discussions on Tuesday, 23 April and agreed proposals to resolve the dispute emerging from that meeting, however, the proposals were rejected by the majority of members of the CPSU. As a result, strike notice was served on the company on Friday, 26 April to expire on Friday, 3 May at 5 p.m.
It is my understanding that direct talks are continuing between CPSU and management in an effort to resolve the dispute. I take this opportunity to urge the parties to continue their negotiations in an attempt to resolve this dispute. The services of the Labour Relations Commission and the Labour Court are available to assist the parties in dispute, if required. I invite the parties to avail of the services of the Labour Relations Commission if the outcome of their negotiations is unsuccessful.