I wish to advise you of the outcome of discussions with An Post regarding Christmas arrangements which will apply this year.

1.  The Christmas pressure period for preparation and delivery purposes will commence on Tuesday 11th December 2007.

2.  Overtime paid on deliveries from the 1st December 2006 up to the commencement date of last year’s Christmas pressure period will be paid. Where there is recognised new development, or authorised overtime since December 2006 on posts, additional hours will be sanctioned.

3.   Delivery casuals will be employed as follows;

• Monday 10th December – Training if required
• Tuesday 11th December to Friday 14th  December inclusive
• Monday 17th December to Friday 21st December inclusive
• Monday 24th December (Christmas Eve)

4.  Normal staffing will be augmented on Saturday 8th December 2007 at all Company offices to ensure that mails are processed in time for delivery on Monday 10th December and to assist with the preparation of walks for those deliveries. In sub-offices where the average volume for that day exceeds 3,000 items, there will be an attendance to walk sort. Feeder services to sub-offices will operate to ensure early availability of mail at sub-offices.

5.  On Sunday 16th December 2007 staffing will be augmented in line with previous years to ensure  that mails are processed in time for delivery for Monday 17th December 2007. 

6.  There will be an attendance at all Company staffed offices on Saturday 22nd 2007 to ensure that all   mails are processed for delivery for Sunday 23rd and to assist with the preparation of walks for delivery. Feeder services to sub-offices should operate as per 2006

7.  On Saturday 22nd  December in sub-offices where the daily volume, during the pressure period,  exceeds 3000 items, there should be an attendance to walk sort. In some of the larger sub-offices or where there is a large urban area, it may also be beneficial to advance the preparation for Sunday.

8. There will be a full nationwide delivery, with no casuals, on Saturday 15th December 2007.

9. There  will be a full nationwide delivery, with no casuals, on Sunday 23rd December 2007.

10. There will be a nationwide letter box collection on Saturday 15th December 2007.  On Sunday 16th December,  Collections will be made in urban areas only as per 2006.

11. Overtime payable to Postpersons who have private transport, should be calculated on the basis on the amount which would have been warranted if a pedal cycle was used

12. Some local mails may be extracted from primary mails at a selected number of offices, before despatch to the appropriate Mails Centres during the period 10th December to 21st December 2007.  Inward sortation will continue to a selected number of offices from December 10th.  Discussions will take place at local level.

13. Delivery staff will be required to accurately tray letters, count/tray flats and count packets throughout the period 1st to 24th December 07

14. At Sub Offices where mail is previously sorted by the Postmaster, and delivery staff now perform this work, they will receive an additional three weeks payment of the inward sorting premium.  It will be made with the first payment of 2008.

Post Christmas Period

• Collections will recommence on Thursday 27th December 2007 as per Sunday/Bank Holiday schedule
• Friday 28th December – Normal working arrangements will apply
• Saturday 29th December – Normal Saturday working arrangements
• Monday 31st December – Normal working arrangements will apply
• Tuesday 1st January 2008 – Standard Bank Holiday arrangements will applyWednesday 2nd January 2008 – Normal working arrangements will apply