Retired An Post workers say their trade union – the Communications Workers Union (CWU) – does not represent An Post pensioners.
Their frustration with the organisation comes following the “indefinite” implementation of a cap on their pensions which prevents them from being increased in line with the cost of living.
Read: UPDATED: Full details of the early morning break-ins being investigated by Longford Gardaí
L-R: Brendan Fitzgerald, Joe Ghee, Billy Cribben, Anthony Healy, Dessie Belton, Mary King, Helen Denniston, and Brendan King.
The cap, which was previously imposed back in 2013 when the fund was “in the red”, was given a 10 year time frame to improve.
Despite having improved to a point where it is “in the black” by over €660 million in 2023, the cap has now been imposed indefinitely rather than being removed or amended as was expected by the retirees that had paid into it.
Read: Congratulations: Longford man celebrates with family after passing out as a Garda
As part of a nationwide stance on the issue, retired An Post workers launched a protest outside Longford Post Office recently.
Group representative, retired postman Brendan King, told the Longford Leader that the indefinite cap was a breach of their pension rights. He added that the protesters were simply looking for fair play and for their legal pension rights to be adhered to and respected.
Serji Madden, Mary King and Marie Madden
Said Brendan, “There’s a cap on our pensions at 2% so if the cost of living does go up to 2%, we don’t get anything.”
“In the 1983 Act Section 46 it was enshrined in law that when we split from the Department of Postal Telegraphs, we would not be any less favoured than civil servants. That right has now been eroded as the cap is now in place indefinitely. The cap should have been removed in 2023.”
Read: Big day as Longford company opens €7m state-of-the art recycling facility in Drumlish
He continued, “Our pension fund at the moment is in the black of over €660 million. All we’re looking for is a cap removal so we can get our pension rights. We’ve been fighting this for over a year.”
“All we’re looking for is fair play and for the union and the company to get rid of the 2% cap that they have on our pensions.”
Brendan explained that in the event of an increase, it would be subject to prolonged and extensive testing before being approved and implemented.
“The thing about it is that when they do eventually give us a rise, it’s forensically tested by the trustees of An Post and by the directors; then it goes to New Éire where it is tested again as well. Then it has to be signed off. The last sign off was Charlie McConalogue, Pat O’Donovan and Jack Chambers. It took nine months for us to get 2%.”
“Our pension fund is in the black. We’re not looking for any taxpayer money, we’re just looking to get money from our fund. We’re not letting this go; we’re going to keep fighting it.”
Read: PICTURES | Sun shines for spectacular Lakeland Vintage Club Show in Ballymahon
“The hoops we have to go through to try and get a raise, it boggles the mind that a government would let that happen. New Éire confirmed the pension fund was totally in the black but yet we still have to go through hoops which is very wrong.”
“I don’t understand why they’re keeping the cap on it. It makes no sense. It’d be different if the pension fund was in the red but it’s not.”
Brendan says the retired workers have no faith in their trade union, the Communications Workers Union (CWU).
“We were having a protest outside the CWU headquarters in Dublin. Seán McDonagh, the general secretary, didn’t come out to us so we had to post a letter in the letter box. We didn’t receive a reply for around two months but there was nothing of substance in it.”
“They basically said there was nothing they could do but that they were working on behalf of An Post pensioners. They represent the current working staff, they don’t represent An Post pensioners. If they did, they wouldn’t have allowed that cap to come in. The union is supposed to be fighting for workers’ rights all over the country.”
Read: PICTURES | Hope shines brightly as hundreds gather for Longford Darkness Into Light Walk
The next step is a meeting with local TD Micheál Carrigy who has been working to help the group.
Said Brendan, “Micheál is part of a committee that will be meeting with our group, the Post Office Pensioners United (POPU) next Wednesday. Paul Moreland is over the group so he’s meeting with the Oireachtas committee next week and then they’re bringing in the company and they’re bringing in the union. So hopefully something will come from that.”
