TELECOM employees have been told to treat Government and Opposition proposals on union demands for a 14.9 per cent share in the company with scepticism.
The message was delivered in a letter sent to 10,000 members yesterday by the general secretary of the Communications Workers Union, Mr David Begg.
In it he said the Government offer did not meet the Telecom unions' demand for a 14.9 per cent shareholding that could be held in trust for the workers and give them a significant say in the future strategic development of the company.
He also described the statement by Fianna Fail and the Progressive Democrats on Wednesday, saying they would give the workers a 14.9 per cent stake in Telecom Eireann at a fair price, as "unhelpful".
According to a report in the Examiner they were offering only 4.9 per cent in the form of a collective shareholding under a trust. The, other 10 per cent would be sold to workers individually and could be cashed in.
However, a spokesman for Fianna Fail said last night it was committed to a shareholding agreement that "is in accord with social partnership and has the agreement of the social partners and the unions".
Talks with the Government on a 14.9 per cent shareholding by workers in Telecom broke down last week.