Postal Service in Jeopardy

national | worker & community struggles and protests | press release

Wednesday June 02, 2004 15:10

by PKFAN

Government Inaction - Postal service in jeopardy
Campaign to support social services at An Post

* An Post provides a range of critical social services under its "Universal Service Obligation" such as house to house deliveries across all parts of the country and the local sub-post offices' network.

* Even though in many cases these are loss-making e.g. rural deliveries cost four times those in urban areas, No funds are provided by the state.

* The Flynn Report in 2000, commissioned by the Government, warned the sub-post office network would cause serious financial problems and that a subvention or state funding was essential to protect the social services of the company.

* To date the Government has effectively ignored the report.

* Last year An Post lost €43 million - the main loss-maker was the Postal Collection and Delivery Division.

* The round of critical talks with unions underway are aimed at slashing costs making workers pay for the Government's inaction.

* The net effect will be to cripple postal collection and delivery services to the areas which depend most on the An Post postal network.

Protect the 'social services' of An Post, such as house to house deliveries and the local post office network by raising the issue of State support for the service when politicians call during the Local and European Elections Campaigns. The 'BIG' Questions to ask -

* Do you support the provision of a comprehensive post delivery and collection service and the maintenance of a local post office network throughout the country?

* In a competitive environment where An Post must cut its margins to hold its market share against privately owned companies only interested in An Post's profitable business, how do you expect An Post to cover the losses from delivering on its "social service obligation"?

* Will you call on the Government to act on the Flynn Report and introduce a subvention like at CIE, RTE, the Regional Airports etc. to ensure An Post can continue to operate a comprehensive public service to all?

CPSU AN Post Branch.

Is Mise Lé Meas,

Paul Kinsella,
Eire,
Mobile: 085 - 1478100,

Paul Kinsella
Irish Stamps
Tel: 01 - 7058464