Over 60 workers at An Post have been suspended in the ongoing row over restructuring at the debt-ridden company.
The company blamed the Communications Workers Union (CWU) which they say called for workers not to carry out their duties at An Post's Dublin Mail Centre last night. Sixty four workers and managers were suspended.
"The CWU has acted in a cynical manner by taking industrial action at the Dublin Mail Centre, the country's largest mail hub.
"The action is clearly designed to maximise disruption to mail services while attempting to minimise impact on their own membership and finances," a spokesman said.
The company was left with no option but to suspend staff when they refused to carry out normal work, the spokesman added.
The CWU yesterday deferred a decision on implementing strike action until Monday after had voted for industrial action.
But the union's strike committee condemned An Post for what it said was the introduction of changes in work practices without agreement.
An Post is projecting an operating of over 40 million for 2003 and says significant change is needed to keep the company viable in the face of declining mail volumes due to increased competition, particularly from electronic media.