Eircom strike narrowly averted

STRIKE action by 6,500 workers at eircom was last night averted just three hours before it was due to begin after workers and the company reached a compromise over pay increases.

The Labour Relations Commission (LRC) sat down with both sides yesterday afternoon to try to find some common ground on the dispute which centred around a 2% pay increase due under Towards 2016. It was the second round of mammoth talks on the matter with the commission this week.

Eircom was willing to give the pay increase, but first it wanted the unions to negotiate on new working arrangements which it saw as vital due to increasing competition.