Postmasters held a peaceful protest in Portlaoise last night as a "taster" of the action they intend to take from next week if An Post carries out its plan to offer Post Point franchises to supermarkets and petrol stations throughout the State.
The protest took the form of mail lorries being "backed up" outside the town's mail centre and being prevented from leaving.
A spokesman for the dissident postmasters said they would do everything possible to prevent An Post from "throwing the franchises of our business away" by allowing non-post office retail outlets to offer stamps for sale and act as agents for Eircom and An Bord Gais in regard to bill payment.
They did not want to discommode the public by delaying mail deliveries in this way, according to the spokesman, but were determined to protect their livelihood.