THE unions in Telecom Eireann are to begin intensive talks with senior officials in the Department of Transport, Energy and Communications and the company on an employee share option (ESOP) scheme for 14.9 per cent of the company.
The talks will begin on Monday and will be chaired by the general secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Mr Peter Cassells. They are expected to conclude by Friday.
The talks are seen as critical to ensuring cost savings of £110 million in the company. Mr Cassells acted as a facilitator for talks between the unions and the Minister, Mr Dukes, at the Department yesterday. Mr Dukes has been reluctant to sanction more than a 5 per cent ESOP, in line with the Aer Lingus share scheme. The trade union movement sees the ability of Telecom workers to acquire a substantial shareholding in the company as a critical test of social partnership.
However, delegates at the Civil and Public Service Union in Kildare yesterday voted for a series of motions which opposed trading concessions to the company for shares. The CPSU represents about 500 clerical workers in Telecom Eireann.
