IRISH private sector wages are the lowest of any of the EU’s 10 wealthiest countries, a trade union claimed last night.

MORE than 6,000 ESB workers are expected to start strike action nationwide within the next two months in protest at the perceived implementation of the government’s energy white paper.

THE board of the ESB yesterday failed to commit to the Government’s Energy White Paper because it said it needed more time to assess the implications for its value and commercial viability.

IRISH workers’ wages are almost 10% behind the EU-15 average, according to a trade union-sponsored report released yesterday.