Postal deliveries to rural areas are expected to be delayed this morning as sub-post office owners begin industrial action.
Over 600 Irish Postmasters' Union (IPU) members say they will not accept mail deliveries from central locations until 8 a.m. as part of a claim for a pay increase. They will also open two hours later than normal - at 8 a.m.
A spokesman for An Post said adjustments had been made to delivery schedules and the only disruption would be in the timing of the deliveries.
The dispute centres on 600 postmasters and postmistresses who work as subcontractors for An Post and claim allowances for early morning work are insufficient. They also claim they are not being paid enough for carrying out a number of functions.
However, An Post said contractors received pay increases of 37 per cent in 1997, 6 per cent in September 2000 and 12 per cent in January 2001.
In addition, they would be receiving a 15 per cent increase in October, backdated to September 2000. This is in addition to benefiting from all phases of the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness.
Although the IPU agrees pay has been increased in recent years, it says members are still paid poorly for the service they provide.