THE Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications, Mr Lowry, has been criticised by Telecom Eireann unions for proposing to cut the company's worker directors from four to two.
The proposed changes are contained in Section 10 of the Telecommunications Bill which receives its first reading in the Dail today.
Last night, the general secretary of the Communications Workers Union, Mr David Begg, said this reduction in worker representation on the board was to accommodate Telecom's new strategic partner KPN/Telia.
"It will be seen in a very bad light by the staff. It will also seriously undermine the capacity of trade unions to secure support for the strategic alliance and the transformation of Telecom Eireann in the emerging competitive market place."
Mr Begg said Telecom unions would he mounting a vigorous campaign to amend the Bill, including lobbying TDs.
A reduction in worker directors will effectively disenfranchise other Telecom unions, such as the CPSU and CMU. With only two seats available, the CWU, by far the largest union, will hold all worker directorships.
Mr Begg said a board restructuring ran contrary to commitments made by the Government to extend social partnership arrangements in industry in both the Programme for Competitiveness and Work and its own Programme for Renewal.