MANAGEMENT AT AVIVA INSURANCE IS EXPECTED TO ANNOUNCE AROUND 850 REDUNDANCIES AND THE OUTSOURCING OF A FURTHER 300 STAFF LATER THIS MORNING.

THE UK COMPANY, WHICH EMPLOYS OVER 2,000 STAFF IN IRELAND, HAS INVITED STAFF TO BUSINESS UPDATES AT 10AM IN DUBLIN, CORK AND GALWAY.

SPECULATION HAS BEEN RIFE FOR WEEKS THAT AVIVA WAS SET TO SHED UP TO 1,000 JOBS.

AT BRIEFINGS THIS MORNING, MANAGEMENT WILL FINALLY CONFIRM JUST HOW SEVERELY JOB NUMBERS WILL BE CUT.

IT IS NOT KNOWN WHERE THE 300 STAFF WILL BE OUTSOURCED FROM OR TO.

HOWEVER, ON THE UP SIDE, AVIVA IS SET TO CREATE A FURTHER 100 JOBS IN THE HEALTH INSURANCE DIVISION OVER TIME.

UNITE REGIONAL OFFICER BRIAN GALLAGHER, WHO MET MANAGEMENT YESTERDAY, SAID STAFF WERE VERY WORRIED.

THEY STILL DO NOT KNOW A TIMESCALE OR TERMS FOR THE REDUNDANCIES OR WHETHER THEY WILL BE VOLUNTARY OR COMPULSORY.

MR GALLAGHER SAID AVIVA HAS UNDERTAKEN TO GIVE THE UNION AS MUCH TIME AS NECESSARY TO WORK THROUGH THE PROPOSALS. HE SAID UNITE WILL BE HOLDING THEM TO THAT COMMITMENT.