Meta Cuts 1,070 Irish Jobs; Covalen Workers Strike Over Severance and Union Recognition

Meta has cut approximately 1,070 jobs in Ireland, significantly impacting its workforce and that of its contractor, Covalen. While Meta announced 350 direct job losses, representing 20% of its Irish staff, an additional 720 redundancies occurred at Covalen, a content moderation site in Sandyford, Dublin. This suggests Irish Meta jobs may be more vulnerable or that Meta over-hired in the region.

Covalen workers, many low-paid content moderators earning around €32,000 annually, are represented by the Communication Workers’ Union (CWU). The CWU is fighting for severance pay for hundreds of moderators with less than two years of service, accusing Covalen of rushing the redundancy consultation process, increasing those ineligible for pay from 400 to 460. On May 15, CWU members at Covalen began a series of one-day strikes, following earlier strikes in January demanding union recognition.

This trend of job losses in tech is driven by factors like AI acceleration, reducing the need for human workers, and a correction after pandemic-era hiring. Meta has reduced its Irish workforce by 40% since the pandemic, despite opening a large office in Ballsbridge. The company plans to spend up to $145 billion (€124.9 billion) on AI by 2026, using Special Purpose Vehicles (SPEs) to finance massive data center projects, keeping debt off its balance sheet. While unions cannot reverse job loss trends, they are crucial for advocating for tech workers’ rights amidst these industry shifts.