TELECOM Eireann unions have accused the Minister for Communications, Mr Lowry, of deliberately delaying talks on an employee share option scheme in order to try to freeze them out of negotiations on the strategic partnership deal.
The general secretary of the largest Telecom union, Mr David of says he feels "a keen sense personal betrayal at the manner in which we have been treated".
The leaders of the three Government parties had all indicated to the Telecom unions that they supported a significant employee shareholding in the company, Mr Begg said. But no progress had been made because Mr Lowry and his Department appeared to be opposed to employees buying such a shareholding.
Mr Begg, general secretary of the Communication Workers Union, was speaking on behalf of all the unions in the company yesterday.
He warned that if employees were not given the opportunity to buy a large enough shareholding to be able to influence strategic decisions, it would be impossible for the unions to persuade members to accept the sort of painful changes that would be needed to make it more efficient.
"We are calling on the Government to make up its mind as to whether it wants the staff of Telecom Eireann on board or not for the strategic alliance," he said. If the answer was in the affirmative, it meant urgent action was needed in agreeing in principle "to allow employees to purchase a significant equity stake".
Mr Lowry said later it had been made clear last year that employees would receive 5 per cent of the equity of Telecom set aside for them in the strategic partnership deal. Mr Begg had been given open access to the Department at all times.
The unions are looking for at least 15 per cent of Telecom. Last night, a Government spokesman said a final decision on the extent of the employee shareholding had still to be made.
Meanwhile, the Fianna Fail spokesman for labour affairs, Mr Tom Kitt, has accused Mr Lowry of giving Telecom workers the "run around".