News

The CWU Ireland has won a major pay battle with Babcock & Brown the Australian Multinational company who recently purchased eircom, the Irish Telecommunications company.



Babcock & Brown had insisted on stringent pre-conditions for the payment of a 2% pay increase provided for under the Social Partnership model which operates in Ireland.  These pre-conditions were unacceptable to the CWU who conducted a ballot for industrial action.  97% of members voted in favour of taking industrial action.  Following the intervention of the Labour Relations Commission, Babcock & Brown were forced to pay the 2% increase.



The CWU has launched a campaign against Babcock & Brown’s proposals to split the Network and Retail divisions and form two separate companies.  The CWU has pointed out the proposal does not make economic sense and will undermine employment, pay and conditions of serving eircom members.  There is no precedent for splitting telecommunications companies in the manner proposed and reports issued by the OECD on the subject does not support the splitting up of telecommunications companies.