Bord na Móna workers seek to recoup €2.25m in wages

BORD na Móna workers may go to the Labour Relations Commission to recoup more than €2.25 million in earnings lost due to closures at two peat-fired power stations.

The ESB plants that were closed on health and safety grounds last month are in Lough Ree, Co Longford and Shannonbridge, Co Offaly. They have only been open for the last five years and cost almost €500m, yet both have been closed twice due to corrosion.

Bord na Móna workers whose product fuelled the plant are losing thousands of euro each because they are on “pay by results” contracts; if the peat they supply is not needed they do not get paid. Approximately 100 seasonal and permanent workers are affected.

The union representing the workers, SIPTU, claims a number are earning so little their incomes have fallen below the tax threshold.

On Wednesday the union met with Bord na Móna to discuss the situation.

However, yesterday the secretary of the Bord na Móna group of unions John Kane said the company was unable to tell them what the future outlook was for the plants or make available any compensation payments.

“The issue of loss of earnings is still unresolved and we have been given no assurances by Bord na Móna,” he said. He said the Offaly plant is expected to be open once more at the end of August but the company could not give a date for the Lough Ree plant.

Last year, as a result of the temporary closure of one of the peat-fuelled plants, workers lost up to €16,000 each in earnings.

Mr Kane said Bord na Móna was seeking compensation from the ESB and money should be forwarded to the affected workers. Otherwise he said the workers would have to take the matter to the Labour Relations Commission.

Mr Kane said the people who worked seasonally had been let go.

For some, the situation was not so bad because they were supplementing an existing income.

Others, however, had to join the dole queue and for the permanent staff there was no alternative income.