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SIPTU MEMBERS CURRENTLY employed by Virgin Media are to ballot for industrial action after the broadcaster announced it was cutting dozens of jobs.
The union said it was taking the action, which includes action up to and including strike action, in a dispute concerning compulsory redundancies.
Last week, the Unite trade union announced its staff had unanimously decided to ballot for industrial action.
The company, which provides TV, mobile and broadband services, currently employs around 1,600 people.
It was reported in recent weeks that the company may cut up to 65 jobs in the next month.
SIPTU Organiser, Rachel Keane, said: “At very well attended meetings of our members held recently in Limerick, Dublin and Cork it was unanimously decided to conduct a ballot for industrial action, up to and including strike action.
“Our member’s decision followed the company’s failure to engage with Siptu representatives prior to its announcement that it intends to to make up to 65 workers redundant, failure to implement a Labour Court recommendation concerning pay and numerous breaches of a collective agreement which was agreed in 2008.”
Our members are also completely shocked at the company’s unacceptable behaviour in disrespecting their right to be represented collectively by their union. They have been through ‘transformation programmes’ with the company as recently as 2015 but now Virgin Media Ireland, owned by UK Liberty Global, is choosing to ignore normal industrial relations procedures in Ireland.
Last week, Virgin Media released a statement saying “difficult decisions” had been made by the firm to keep up in what it had described as a “highly competitive market”.
In its statement, Virgin Media said: “As stated recently, we are entering a transformation and efficiency programme to ensure continued revenue growth in a highly competitive market”.
“This involves making some difficult decisions which will impact a number of roles in the Virgin Media Ireland business.”
The company said that “it is envisaged that up to 65 roles may potentially be affected and we have entered a 30-day consultation period with staff members. This is being conducted in a sensitive and appropriate manner”.
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Hmmm…the company is in trouble and making redundancies. The union’s response is consider industrial action which will only make the financial situation worse. Then when the company closes the union will say aren’t we great because we represented the workers and stood up for their rights. The workers will be out of a job but hey they stood up for their rights.
@John Horan: stop. The unions will no doubt turn this company around and get more people jobs and better pay . Sorry I bumped my head.
They won’t
@John Horan: god damn those unions, how dare they look after the workers rights while that multi billion euro company cuts jobs.
@Thomas Maher: this company is not breaking the law
@John Horan: Virgin have a yearly price increase, I’d say they’re fine. The call centre was in India last time I called to complain. Companies do this to raise profits, not necessarily because they have to.
@John Horan: Siptu have got to Siptu
Can the accounts section go on strike please
Virgin Media gives customers a great service at the right price.point. Don’t let unions ruin another good private sector company!
@Lar Meyler: A great service? 90 euro a month for broadband! did you just get a lobotomy?
@Diogenes: I pay €58 for 240mb broadband and full telephone service including to.mobile and 400 min Intl.calls
Have had this since.2006. I have zero complaints.
@Diogenes: who is paying 90 euro for broadband only??
OK the cost is dear but you know that when you signed up. The service is actually good comapred to the others.
@Lar Meyler: A price point that has a yearly increase.
@Diogenes: I pay 65 a month for 500mb broadband and a full TV package including sky sports. You got ripped off.
@Barra O Brien: That’s why you change providers after a year. New customers always get the best deals.
@Barra O Brien: Started at €48 in 2006 so not complaining.
@Sean: I have the same as you at €42 but without the sports
New customers get good deals but long term customers can get better deals, especially with Sky
Ahh the dear old unions are at it again. Their track record at ruining companies is nearly as good as certain politicians track record of ruining the economy. But alas people keep them in positions of power and influence.
@Brian: like it’s up to 4% of the workforce and now the whole company is going to go on strike?. Most companies turn over a lot more than 4% annually so they’ll probably just not replace those that leave but to shareholders they’ve reduced workforce by the suggested 4%. Hardly worth striking is it?
Typical union mindset, they will cause destruction of the company.
@Stephen Kearon: it has yearly revenue of sbout 10 billion, i think they’ll survive
@Thomas Maher: Apparantly the 10 billion profit for the shareholders is not greed, but people trying to defend their right to a living is greed.
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