BT Ireland in row over unionisation

INDUSTRIAL action is brewing at BT Ireland as the company refuses to recognise the right of its staff to trade union representation.

Company workers called off a protest due to take place yesterday after the company agreed to attend talks at the Labour Relations Commission (LRC).

However, Ian McArdle of the Communications Workers’ Union (CWU) said willingness to talk should not be taken as a sign the workers will not escalate the action if their concerns are not addressed.

“BT Ireland exists on an all-island basis, meaning a lot of management decisions come from Belfast. However, while members in the North have trade union representation, those in the South do not. We have had informal and formal talks with the company but they have refused to deal with us in the LRC,” he said.

He said when the workers were told of the company’s “discriminatory” approach, they wanted to bring it into the public domain.

They agreed that yesterday 50 members of staff would protest outside the headquarters of BT Ireland in Dublin. The protest would have been outside working hours and so did not mean industrial action.

Before it took place, the company agreed to enter talks in the LRC and the protest was called off. The two sides are due to meet at the LRC on Monday.

“We understand senior management from England are being flown over to meet us,” said Mr McArdle.

They will be meeting under the Statutory Instrument 76, used in disputes where unions are not recognised.