ESB union considers strike action

AN estimated 450 ESB power workers are to consider industrial action which could severely hamper electricity supplies across the country at the height of winter.

The ATGWU has told its worker representatives ESB management has indicated four power plants are set to close in the coming years.

Union representatives will brief angry workers on the situation early next week and consider what action, if any, to take.

Regional organiser Brendan Ogle said that any action will lead to major disruption as the supply of electricity, at present, is just about meeting demand. However, he added if there is any action it will come after Christmas at this stage.

The conflict between the workers and employer has arisen due to an agreement between the Commission for Energy Regulation and ESB on reducing the State utility’s market share. That aims to reduce the company’s capacity by 30% or 1,300 megawatts by 2010 and to allow access to the grid to ESB competitors.

The ESB would benefit by being allowed to build a €300 million plant at Aghada.

Tarbert in Co Kerry is the only plant officially proposed for closure but the union said it has received information that plants at Great Island, Poolbeg and North Wall could also close.

Mr Ogle said the decision had been taken without prior consultation with unions.

“They are giving two fingers to the entitlements of the workers and the consumers,” he said.

The union is awaiting the outcome of worker meetings next week to see if it gets a mandate for action.

An ESB spokesman said it had met with the unions regarding the agreement it had reached with the Commission for Energy Regulation.

“No decisions have been made regarding specific plants or sites,” he said. “It is the ESB’s intention to engage fully with the unions to discuss the agreement reached with the CER.”

He said the four plants which the union has quoted as identified for closure amount to 2,000 megawatts of power, far in excess of the 1,300 it was divesting.