Postal services are to resume as industrial action that has seen the postal service shut down has been suspended, with new talks to begin tomorrow.
The Communications Workers Union says it is suspending its strike after IO Systems agreed to restore workers to their agreed wage levels and rostering.
The dispute between the two groups has seen the postal service effectively shut down since last Friday afternoon.
In a statement this evening the CWU said a new round of talks would begin tomorrow afternoon.
CWU General Secretary, Steve Fitzpatrick said: “We welcome the decision of the Company to re-instate its workers to their agreed rostering arrangements and wage levels.
"As we have consistently stated, we are prepared to engage, but only on the basis that workers at IO Systems have their jobs restored to their agreed wage levels and rosters. We are also prepared to back Phil Flynn’s intervention in good faith. However, we hope that IO Systems, or indeed An Post management, don’t squander the opportunity that is being presented.”
An Post have said they welcome "the agreement of IO Systems and the Communications Workers’ Union to seek resolution of their dispute without further disruption of mail services."
Customers can resume sending letters and parcels from tomorrow, with normal working hours being resumed from this evening. An Post do warn however that it will take a few days for service to get back to normal.
Department of Social Protection cheque payments by mail and Passport Express services will resume immediately.
The Taoiseach Enda Kenny earlier today said he wants both sides of the postal strike to begin talks today.
His comments came after the Communications Minister Alex White said a prolonged action would be 'unthinkable'.
36 workers at contractor IO systems have been on strike over pay and rostering since last Friday.
Mr Kenny appealed for talks to begin as soon as possible.
Minister White said it is essential the strike is brought to an early end, and wants both sides to meet at the talks table.
Earlier, the CWU said a decision by An Post to shut down postal services was "ludicrous".
That remark came after the contractor at the centre of the dispute insisted its employees' core pay was not being cut.
However, IO Systems admitted changes in shift patterns and a reduction in working hours have affected premium pay rates.
Fergal Lynam is managing director of IO Systems and spoke to Newstalk Breakfast.
Sean McDonagh is national officer for the CWU. He said changes were introduced without any consultation.
The Department of Social Protection says payment cheques to its customers will arrive as expected since they were posted prior to the action being staged.
Passport applications
Elsewhere, the Department of Foreign Affairs has announced temporary Passport Express arrangements.
Passport Express services in post offices have been suspended, and customers who do not yet have definite travel plans are advised to postpone submitting their applications.
For those travelling within 10 working days or less, the online appointments system for the Dublin and Cork passport offices will continue to operate as normal on the www.dfa.ie website.
And for people travelling in more than 10 working days, application drop-off boxes will be in operation at reception in the Dublin and Cork passport offices - and at the Irish Aid Office in Limerick from this morning.
The Department says it will prioritise those with emergency travel plans.
