ABOUT 260 An Post staff are to receive bonus payments for meeting targets last year.
The company said yesterday that it was not possible to give a precise figure for the average payment. However, sources suggested the payments could be between €3,000 and €7,000.
An Post said the payments were for frontline staff and middle management. It said the money represented performance-related payments which had been a feature of pay and conditions for managers for some years.
An Post said no performance-related payments would be made to senior management this year.
“The company has just implemented the performance-related pay element of the remuneration system to frontline and middle managers in respect of 2009.
“Some 260 staff are involved. Performance-related pay is covered by collective agreements in respect of these employees.
“No pay increases have been awarded in An Post since 2008,” it added.
The performance-related payment system was introduced to replace an arrangement whereby personnel received overtime and other payments.
Earlier this year, assessors appointed by the Labour Relations Commission backed arguments put forward by An Post that profits were insufficient to pay the 3.5 per cent national deal increase due from May 1st, 2009. Last November, unions at An Post met the company at the LRC seeking payment of the 3.5 per cent increase, under the first phase of the transitional agreement national deal agreed in 2008.
The State-owned company responded by seeking a pay freeze for the next two years. An Post said it would review the situation in light of the evolving economic situation, its trading circumstances, the consumer price index and any new national agreements.