ESB staff to look for 20% stake

Talks in the new year between ESB management and unions representing staff are likely to focus on employee demands for a 20% stake of the State Body.

Unions last week warned of power cuts unless a new deal was agreed by the company and by the Government.

However, earlier warnings that industrial action could take place in January have been put on hold with unions prepared to wait for the outcome of talks likely to involve ESB management and the Department of Communications.

Yesterday, delegates from the ESB group of unions decided to enter talks aimed at replacing the current partnership, PACT, which is to expire in July 2004.

The staff already have a 5% stake in the company and union representative Paddy Reilly said that this stake needed to be increased by 14.9% to almost 20%.