Aviva’s 200-plus jobs in Galway may escape axe

Date Published: 09-Apr-2012

BY ENDA CUNNINGHAM

Aviva Insurance in Knocknacarra – where more than 200 jobs have been under threat for the past year – could be saved and branded as a ‘Centre of Excellence’.

Workers are still ‘in limbo’ as discussions are ongoing with the UNITE union. But there are hopes an announcement will be made in the coming weeks and Knocknacarra will escape relatively unscathed.

The Sentinel understands that management in the branch have been working hard to impress upon executives the value of skills there.

They have recently taken on work from Ulster Bank Home Insurance, as well as duties from a call centre in India.

Local management are hopeful that Galway could become a ‘Claims Centre of Excellence’ for Aviva, and escape the swingeing cuts, which threatens around 200 jobs, and around 1,000 more between Dublin and Cork.

However, morale at the Knocknacarra branch is at an all-time low – workers have been awaiting a decision on their future since April 2011.

One employee told the Sentinel: “We know nothing. People are dejected. In the best-case scenario, there will be 20 plus redundancies and we will escape relatively unscathed.

“But it has been very difficult. One girl was refused a loan for her wedding in the credit union and in AIB because she is an Aviva worker. That’s demoralising.”

Read more in today’s Connacht Sentinel