As you will be aware from GS Circular 06/07 dated 16th February the European Parliament is in the process of discussing the EU Commission’s Postal Directive which ultimately will lead to the full liberalisation of postal markets.

Many of you will have gone through a similar process in the change over from the old Bord Telecom to your present companies.  That process, one could argue, was necessary in order to ensure the level of investment needed in the new technologies that were emerging at the time.  The situation with postal services is completely different, in that there are very small profits to be made, particularly in Ireland, from the postal industry and what profits are made are used to cross subsidise the provision of universal services to the provincial areas.  Under the proposed Directive, that cross subsidisation will cease and it is absolutely unclear how universal service will then be provided.

You will note from our previous circular that we were seeking support for our postal colleagues through obtaining signatures for a petition which can be downloaded from the Union website and can be filled in either hard or soft copy.  At a recent Postal Sectoral Executive meeting, it was decided that that petition  should close on Friday, 18th May and the purpose of this circular is to ask all our members outside of An Post to make a final push to have as many signatures as possible entered on to the petitions either in hard copy or online.

The level of return we receive on the petition will also send out a message to all of the companies within which we organise in relation to the strength of this Union while at the same time sending a message of solidarity to your colleagues in An Post and to all postal workers throughout the EU.

I would therefore urgently request that you make one last effort to ensure all of your members in the Branch and the sections fill in the petition and where possible to get their friends, family and community to do the same.  I realise it can sometimes be difficult to enthuse members on issues that do not directly affect them but as is always the case “unity is strength” and on this occasion your support is crucial to the survival of the Irish Postal Service and the future of the 8,500 CWU members employed there.

Enquiries from members relating to the above should be referred to Ian McArdle