An Post workers vote to accept 5% pay increase

An Post workers have voted to approve a pay deal that would see the vast majority of staff receive a 5 per cent pay increase.

The pay deal has been passed by members of the largest union in An Post, the Communication Workers’ Union (CWU), with more than 90 per cent of ballots in favour of the deal.

The agreement, which had been backed by the union’s national executive council, means staff will receive a 2½ per cent pay increase this year and at the start of next year. The agreement also provides for an increase of 4 per cent in pay for pension purposes.

In recommending the deal, the union’s executive council said staff were facing “significant inflationary pressures”, while noting An Post was also facing financial challenges due to Covid-19 and the declining number of letters being sent.

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CWU general secretary Seán McDonagh said postal workers had played a “critical role” during the pandemic, keeping communities connected and supporting businesses.

“The pandemic compounded fundamental changes that were already under way in the market, including falling volumes of letters and packets and increases in parcel volumes,” he said.

An Post staff had supported changes sought by the company in response to “the market challenges it faces”, he said.

Other unions

The An Post group of unions also includes Fórsa and the Association of Higher Civil and Public Servants, both of whom represent a smaller number of staff. Results of ballots from those unions are expected in the coming weeks. But the deal is due to be accepted as a result of the strong CWU support.

The draft pay agreement states that, following talks, the unions acknowledged that “co-operation with change” was crucial to An Post “achieving a sustainable business”. Moreover, management accepted that some savings via efficiency “should be shared with employees”.

In a statement the CWU said the new agreement also committed An Post to review managers’ pay and grade structures, and to review pension provisions.

In a statement, An Post said it welcomed the CWU decision to accept the new pay deal. “We look forward to working with the CWU and all stakeholders at An Post on the next stage of our transformation and meeting the challenges ahead,” it said