Workers at Eircom are likely to serve seven days' notice of industrial action on the telecoms group today following an overwhelming vote for such a move by members of the largest union in the company.
The Communications Workers Union, which represents more than 5,000 workers at Eircom, yesterday announced that 96.7 per cent of the 4,500 members who had taken part in a recent ballot had voted in favour of industrial action.
General secretary Steve Fitzpatrick said he was surprised at the size of the Yes vote. He said it was the first ballot on full industrial action at Eircom in 30 years.
Babcock & Brown, which owns Eircom, is withholding a 2 per cent pay increase due under the Towards 2016 national wage deal until the unions sign a "memorandum of understanding" (MoU) with the company.
The MoU relates to work practice changes which Eircom's Australian owners wish to implement.
A spokesman for Eircom yesterday repeated that a written understanding would have to be arrived at before the 2 per cent would be paid.
Mr Fitzpatrick said his union and its members in Eircom "have worked in partnership with Eircom's management since its initial privatisation, overseeing the biggest change agenda in any industry in this country.
"The fact that the company now chooses to abandon a partnership approach in favour of hostile actions is regrettable and I am absolutely confident that we will receive the full payment due to Eircom workers, with retrospection as due under the Towards 2016 agreement."
The union's executive will meet today to discuss the ballot outcome and expects to serve notice on the company afterwards. It will also inform the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.
It is thought likely that the LRC will call in both sides and seek to facilitate a settlement.
A number of other unions at the company have also conducted ballots. The PSEU, which represents approximately 400 workers at Eircom, said yesterday that 91 per cent of those who had taken part in its ballot had voted for industrial action.
Workers with Impact have also voted in favour of industrial action, with 98.6 per cent voting in favour. A ballot of CPSU members is due to close on July 20th.
The Eircom spokesman said it committed many weeks ago to pay the 2 per cent wage increase, backdated to May 1st.
"The company has never sought and is not now seeking to reduce the terms and conditions of employment.
"In return for the pay increase, both the national Towards 2016 agreement and the local partnership agreement between Eircom and the unions provide for direct discussions regarding ongoing change.
"Eircom has been patiently waiting for the unions to engage in meaningful dialogue with the company since June 6th. Those talks need to take place and result in documented understandings before the 2 per cent can be actioned.
"A meeting is scheduled for this coming Wednesday and the company looks forward to engaging fully with the unions."
