Members of the Communications Workers’ Union (CWU) employed at outsourcing firm Covalen are engaging in a one-day strike in a dispute over union recognition and redundancy payments.
Last month, Covalen, which provides content moderation and AI training services for social media giant Meta, informed staff and the Government of around 720 potential redundancies.
In March, Meta announced plans to use advanced AI systems in the future, which it said would reduce its reliance on third-party suppliers for content moderation.
Pickets will be placed at Covalen’s office in Dublin this afternoon and further strikes are planned on 22 May and 29 May.
“Our members at Covalen are being forced on to the picket line in pursuit of union recognition and fair redundancy payments for the 720 of their colleagues that are being threatened with losing their jobs,” said CWU General Secretary Seán McDonagh.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Covalen said the company continues to proactively consult with and support affected teams through the current transition.
“We also continue to follow the required processes in line with our obligations. All employees have access to our employee wellbeing support through Covalen’ Employee Assistance Programme,” the spokesperson added.
In November 2025, Covalen commenced consultation with staff in relation to a previous round of redundancies.
More than 400 roles were under threat at the time but ultimately around 300 redundancies occurred.
In January, staff at Covalen who are members of the CWU, took strike action in a dispute over redundancy pay and union recognition.
