Eircom workers serve strike notice on company

EIRCOM workers yesterday served strike notice on the company, meaning thousands of homes and businesses could be without communications by as early as next Friday.

Eircom and unions representing its 6,500 workers have accepted an invitation from the Labour Relations Commission to meet on Monday, but if no agreement can be reached the action will go ahead before the end of next week.

The dispute is over what workers see as the firm’s failure to pay a 2% wage increase due under the national wage deal. The company wants this to follow talks with unions on new work arrangements. The unions say they are prepared to engage in talks but only after they secure the increase.