Fears for up to 850 jobs ahead of Aviva briefings

UP to 850 Aviva insurance workers across the country are likely to find out today that they are losing their jobs.

It is not known whether the expected redundancies will be compulsory or voluntary. The workers were due to be given the full details at a 10am briefing in the Dublin, Cork and Galway offices.

Aviva employs 2,000 staff in its three Irish offices and, aside from the 850 redundancies, 300 jobs are also likely to be outsourced, insiders believe.

The company will also announce today that it is creating 100 jobs in its health section. It is possible that the redundancies will come from its beleaguered life and general insurance divisions, which have not been performing well.

Officials from the Unite trade union met with management last night but refused to comment in advance of today’s briefing.

Unite represents 1,300 of the Aviva staff employed in Ireland. Its regional officer, Brian Gallagher, said last night that staff were naturally “very worried”.