Eircom workers face pay cuts and redundancies

EIRCOM’S 7,000 staff are bracing themselves for significant pay cuts and redundancies in their number as the company carries out a “root and branch” review of its cost base.

The review, which started this week and which is expected to last up to three weeks, is examining every section of the company to see where savings can be made to make up for the pre-tax loss of €791 million for the first half of its financial year and e433m deficit in its pension scheme.

Steve Fitzpatrick, of the Communication Workers Union, which represents 5,000 staff at eircom, said those members had never faced pay cuts or wholesale redundancies at the company before.