Eircom staff protest against Denis O'Brien

Members of Eircom's staff have presented a petition to the company's head office in Dublin expressing their opposition to the e-Island bid to take over the company.

4,258 signatures were gathered from Eircom employees around Ireland as a grass-roots protest against eIsland chairman Denis O'Brien's attitude towards workers.

Mr O'Brien is battling with the Valentia consortium, headed by Independent News and Media owner Sir Anthony O'Reilly, to take over Eircom.

The Eircom Share Ownership Trust, an umbrella group for employees who own shares in the company, has already voted in favour of Mr O'Reilly's bid, but the company itself has supported the O'Brien offer, which is slightly higher than O'Reilly's.

However, staff members throughout the country believe Denis O'Brien has, in the past, been strongly critical of Eircom and its staff.

They also claim he has refused to recognise trade unions in his role with other companies that he owns.