AN POST has laid off the equivalent of 260 full-time staff under a cost-cutting programme introduced at the start of this year, according to one of the company’s unions.

Representatives of the Communication Workers Union yesterday told an Oireachtas committee that An Post will have reduced its staff numbers by 425 full-time-equivalent positions by this December, with an overall target reduction of 1,375 full-time-equivalent positions by the end of 2012. This is on top of a reduction of 402 full-time-equivalent positions in 2009.

A spokeswoman for An Post last night confirmed the figures.

The union representatives, who gave a presentation to the Joint Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, warned that legislation to protect the postal industry in Ireland was needed ahead of the adoption of an EU directive on postal liberalisation at the start of next year.

Ian McArdle, head of regulatory affairs with the union, said the experience in other postal markets which had been opened to competition, was that “unfortunately job losses and liberalisation go hand in hand”.

“If handled badly it could spell the end of An Post and 10,000 jobs,” he said.

The union also warned against changes which could affect An Post’s ability to provide the universal service obligation, which ensures that everywhere in the Republic, rural or urban, receives the same level of postal services, once a day, five days a week.

He said the fear is that other companies could come in and “cherry pick” profitable routes meaning An Post would be left with remote routes and this could lead to government subvention.