Aviva staff vote for industrial action

Date Published: 20-Oct-2011

BY ENDA CUNNINGHAM

Up to 250 workers at Aviva Insurance in Galway last night voted unanimously in favour of industrial action – including potentially an all-out strike – following the confirmation that 950 jobs are to go in the firm nationally, and a further 300 outsourced across the country.

Staff held two meetings at the branch in Knocknacarra last night to discuss the lack of information from management on the meetings, and a ballot for industrial action could be held as early as next Tuesday. They also passed a unanimous vote of no confidence in management of the company.

Some some senior workers in Galway remain hopeful that the local operation will be saved, despite swingeing job cuts confirmed by the company this week.

But staff are “completely furious” that little information was offered at a meeting specially convened by management at the Knocknacarra offices in Galway on Wednesday morning.

It’s known that the lease on the building in Knocknacarra is about to expire and is currently being renegotiated – which is seen by some as a positive indication.

During the 45-minute meeting, one of the management team from Dublin explained that of the workforce of around 1,800 in Ireland, 950 jobs will be cut. It’s understood that around 300 more jobs will be outsourced.

Around 230 staff are employed at the call centre, claims service centre and administration building in Galway West Business Park in Knocknacarra, with 12 more in general insurance and life assurance at an office in Eyre Square.

While there were angry questions posed to the management representative at the meeting in Galway, some senior employees locally remain hopeful the cuts will have a minimal impact on operations here.

For more on this story, see the Galway City Tribune.