Contractors' group blasts electricians' union

A trade association representing electrical contactors in Ireland has called on an electricians' union to abandon plans for a one-day strike and enter talks.

The Technical Engineering and Electrical Union (TEEU) last week threatened the action if its demand for a pay increase for members is not met.

The union says more than 10,500 of its members are due an increase worth nearly €2.50 an hour under the registered employment agreement process, with has determined wages in the sector for more than 70 years.

It says the pay rise, which would bring the minimum hourly rate to almost €24, would the first increase paid to workers in the electrical sector in more than two years.

The TEEU is warning that its members will take industrial action from July 6 if the dispute is not resolved.

The National Electrical Contractors Ireland (NECI) trade assocation - representing over 700 electrical contracers - in a statement today said it was "clear the Union (TEEU) does not want to face reality.

The NECI said that in response to the strike threat it instructed its members to cease processing TEEU membership fees through their payroll systems.

"Maybe when the TEEU has to deal with the difficulty of collecting its own dues from each and every member they will experience to a small degree the difficult trading conditions which each and every Irish electrical contractor has had to face up to," the statement said.

The assocation added: "It is clear that with a 70% decline in work available (in the construction sector), something has to give".

NECI called on the TEEU to abandon strike plans and enter meaningful all-inclusive talks.