Postmasters and postmistresses from around the State are to hold a demonstration in Dublin later this month to highlight what they see as the crisis facing the Republic's post office network.
The Irish Postmasters' Union is also to field a number of candidates in the upcoming General Election. Workers in Co Waterford and possibly other constituencies may run as single-issue candidates.
The group says over 300 postmasters across the country have left the business over the last two years, with a similar number of offices set to close over the next two to three years .
IPU branches held regional meetings across the country over the past three weeks which culminating in tonight's meeting in Dublin.
On February 20th, postmasters and postmistresses will march from Parnell Square to the Dail via the GPO on O'Connell Street.
IPO general secretary John Kane said: "The network has been seriously threatened — it has gone down from 1,750 post offices in 2001 to less than 1,300 today, and still falling.
"That's mostly to do with the income of postmasters. There is no group in the country which is paid less than postmasters and postmistresses when you take into account the responsibilities they carry."
The IPO said the government was not doing what was necessary to ensure that services like social welfare payments, TV licences, post office savings were retained.
"That's our biggest line of business and without that our post office network would collapse completely," Mr Kane added.
He continued: "There doesn't seem to be any will within An Post to tackle the problem. They've been exploiting our people and they obviously want to continue to do so."
On the issue of fielding candidates, Mr Kane said: "IPO members believe that local people will support the candidate that is working to supply some type of security for the post office network."
Tommy Broughan, Labour Party Spokesperson on Communications said that
the Fianna Fail/PD's government have allowed the drip-by-drip decimation of the postal network during the last nine years.
"The developing stand-off at An Post between postmasters and postmistresses is extremely serious. Last night around 1300 postmasters and postmistresses voted to not support the introduction of the new financial services package that has been facilitated through An Post's joint venture with Belgian bank Fortis," he said.
"Talks are also taking place today on the passport express and money transfer services. It has been reported that both of these services will cease from Monday if no agreement is reached today on these issues."
Mr Broughan added that it is clear that postmasters and postmistresses around the country are extremely frustrated over critical issues such as salaries, security and the non-automation of sub-post offices and called on Minister Dempsey to urgently intervene before the situation deteriorates any further.
Martin Ferris, Sinn Féin spokesperson on Rural Development, has voiced his support for the action.
"This is a major issue in rural Ireland in particular, where hundreds of local post offices have closed over the past number of years. Not only does this deprive local communities of an essential service but it also exacerbates problems of isolation and the general decline of rural areas.
"The postmaster's action indicates that a crisis point has been reached and it is the duty of the Government to ensure that something is done to address the situation as a matter of urgency," he added.