ESB technicians set to strike as talks collapse

ELECTRICAL technicians are set to strike from 8am today after the prospect of talks between union management and the ESB collapsed yesterday.

In a separate worsening dispute, last night SIPTU served two weeks’ notice of industrial action on Irish Ferries after management’s rejection of a set of proposals designed to resolve the dispute over outsourcing.

The ESB claimed talks could not go ahead until it had written confirmation from the Amalgamated Transport and General Workers Union (ATGWU) that the strike threat had been withdrawn.