Two senior industrial relations trouble-shooters are to head up an inquiry into last month’s crippling electricians’ strike, it was revealed today.

Tánaiste Mary Coughlan has launched an investigation into the electricians' industry.

ELECTRICIANS were last night considering a return to widespread strike action after one of the main electrical contractor bodies voted to reject a Labour Court recommendation for 4.9% pay increases in the industry.

The Association of Electrical Contractors is meeting today to discuss whether or not to accept recommendations on pay increases for workers.

ELECTRICAL contractors employing more than 5,000 of the country’s electricians have accepted a Labour Court recommendation which calls for almost 5% pay increases across the industry.

One of the groups representing electrical contractors in Ireland is due to meet later today to consider its response to the Labour Court's recommendation on electricians' pay.

STRIKING electricians were due back to work this morning but with a warning that they were only suspending, not ending, their strike action.

EMPLOYERS and unions involved in the electricians’ strike have been invited to the Labour Court this morning to try and resolve the nationwide dispute.

CHOCOLATE manufacturer Cadbury Ireland Ltd was granted an injunction yesterday preventing picketing outside its plant in Coolock, Dublin, by supporters of the electricians’ strike.

Striking electricians tonight vowed to keep up their damaging all-out stoppage as union leaders agreed to re-enter talks with employers over a bitter pay row.

ELECTRICAL employers have warned ongoing strike action by electricians could lead to an influx of rogue operators into the industry paying a fraction of the agreed rates.

THE nation is facing into possibly the most debilitating strike in a generation as union leaders last night fell in behind 10,500 electricians who will pull the plug today on over 200 construction sites and factories across the country.

Builders’ chiefs today pleaded for trade union leaders to call off a potentially crippling strike by electricians.

A STRIKE by 10,500 electricians next Monday looks set to go ahead after the Labour Relations Commission failed to find a resolution to the dispute between electrical employers and their staff.

ELECTRICAL contractors have threatened to put up to 5,000 workers on protective notice if they go ahead with a threatened strike next Monday.