Staff at insurance group Hibernian voted to ballot for industrial action this evening in protest at the 580 proposed job cuts announced by the company on Monday.
The workers, members of the Unite union, also passed a motion of no confidence in management.
Speaking after the general meeting at Hibernian's Irish head office in Dublin this evening, Unite National Officer Jerry Shanahan said the restructuring proposed by the company was flawed.
"Management say the relocation of these jobs outside of Ireland is inevitable. They are wrong. We have negotiated relocation packages from Dublin to Wexford with Eagle Star, to Kilkenny with VHI and to Donegal with Allianz," he said..
"All have produced savings for the company while maintaining fully sustainable jobs in Ireland and high quality of service for Irish customers," he added.
"The jobs in question are generally at starter level. These are the jobs which allow young Irish school leavers to get on the job ladder. If they go elsewhere then the spectre of youth emigration last seen in the 1980's will be back with us."
Mr Shanahan said the ballot would start immediately.