Stalemate on pay rise as Eircom strike looms

THE first strike action at Eircom in almost 30 years looked inevitable last night with neither the company nor workers prepared to back down on their stance on pay increases.

The difficulties between the two sides are down to timing.

The Communications Workers Union (CWU) which represents 5,000 Eircom staff, claims the company’s owner, Babcock and Brown, is refusing to pay a 2% pay increase due under the Towards 2016 national wage deal until staff agree changes in working conditions.