The Union has learned through reports from members that the Company intends putting the terms of a Voluntary Severance Scheme up on its website from Monday 2nd July 2007.  The mechanism being used for the scheme is that as outlined in the Company’s Memorandum of Understanding distributed to you recently and one that the Union vehemently opposes.  It is interesting to note that the Company is conducting staff briefings on this issue in circumstances where publicly and privately they have continuously stated that the Memorandum was but a flexible starting point for meaningful discussions.  One would want to be seriously deranged to believe that statement by the Company in circumstances where they are actively using elements of the so called flexible starting point as material for staff briefings.

 It now seems that the Company is speaking out of both sides of its mouth as on the one hand it seeks publicly and privately to assure the Union of its good intentions while at the same time it intends to implement elements of the memorandum of understanding indirectly with the staff and behind the staff representatives backs.

On the above basis we would urge all members not to attend any briefings on the scheme and not to enter into any discussions with their manager on the subject.  Any indication from staff that they are happy to deal with the company in this way will see the company implement further elements of the very damaging memorandum of understanding.  If you are not familiar with the company’s memorandum of understanding we urge you to read it carefully and familiarize yourself with the way the company intends to dismiss staff as they see fit.  It is important that all staff take due notice of this deliberate act to ignore existing agreements and acts in law in proceeding in this manner.

As a trade union in eircom we find ourselves now at a crossroads.  Either the new Senior Management in Eircom will deal with your Union on the basis of existing agreements and mutual respect or we face a period of constant turmoil.  There is little doubt that the Company has now shown their true colours and unless we stand together as a trade union we can expect more of the same on an ongoing basis into the future.

Enquiries from members relating to the above should be referred to Jerome Barrett or Jimmy O'Conner