INDUSTRIAL action by sales marketing staff in Eircell been deferred to allow talks take place at the Labour Relations Commission this morning writes Padraig Yeates.
Seventy members of the Civil Service Union are threatening to take action because the company is recruiting new staff at £2,000 a year less to do similar work.
Recruitment has, however, been suspended while talks take place at the LRC. The company is seeking agreement by the CPSU not only to work alongside the recruits, but also to co-operate with the company's new "walk and talk" proposals.
Under these the company is seeking greater flexibility from staff and their co-operation with private companies acting as agents for Eircell. Eircell wants to be able to offer subscribers a service that allows connection of their mobile phone to its network from the moment they purchase it in a shop.
It also wants staff to keep its public offices open longer and to work weekends. Attempts to reach agreement have failed, and last week Eircell began recruiting staff on a lower entry pay scale and with more flexible work contracts.
The CPSU assistant general secretary, Mr Derek Mullen, said that Eircell must deal with CPSU members' concerns in a "more realistic way if the LRC discussions are to be a success".