The union representing workers striking at postal sorting centres has called An Post's executive leadership to ask them to withdraw its threat to shut down the National Postal Service.

The Communication Workers Union says An Post needs to immediately withdraw its threat, as such a decision would cause long term damage to businesses and the postal service itself.

36 workers at I-O Systems, who are responsible for equipment in An Post's mail centres, have have been on strike since Friday over cuts to their pay.

An Post's mail services has been suspended since Friday as a result.

National Officer with the CWU Sean McDonagh, says An Post should not have suspended their service:

Commenting, CWU General Secretary Steve Fitzpatrick said: "The decision of An Post management to shut down the postal system is a strange and reckless escalation of the dispute at IO Systems that will wreak havoc and long term damage to the National Postal Service.

"We can only surmise that the enthusiastic speed at which management has moved to shut down mail operations is confirmation of their prepared intentions designed to shore up and bolster the position of IO Systems.

"‘Contingency planning’ at the Company seems only extend to an attempt to gain advantage in an industrial dispute that doesn’t involve them instead of maintaining services and protecting An Post’s €850 million turnover business. 

"We have written to the Company setting out in detail how mail and parcel services can be maintained using current systems with extended manual sorting.

We are prepared to engage, as we always have, with IO Systems but we will not back down in the face of threats and unilateral action against workers at IO Systems, or An Post. We require that all workers at IO Systems are re-instated under their agreed terms and conditions."