The Communications Workers' Union has secured agreement in principle to an Employee Share Option Plan (ESOP) scheme in An Post, similar to that in Telecom Eireann, writes Padraig Yeates, Industry & Employment Correspondent. The general secretary of the CWU, Mr Con Scanlon, also told delegates at the union conference in Waterford yesterday that the Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O'Rourke, had indicated her willingness to discuss the issue with the union.

However, Mr Scanlon warned management that any agreement to modernise An Post must include a "no redundancy clause". He added that the union would ensure there was "a commitment that no unreasonable demands will be placed on staff to relocate". At the same time, he reminded members that changes in the postal sector would not be leisurely.