Polish workers at ESB vote for industrial action

UP TO 200 Polish workers at one of the ESB’s main power stations, Moneypoint, last night voted in favour of industrial action claiming they have not been paid since the beginning of September and now face the prospect of losing their jobs.

It is expected that if other members of the workers’ union, the TEEU, decide to come out in support of their colleagues and the action escalates, it could have serious implications for power supplies nationwide as Moneypoint supplies about an eighth of the country with electricity.

The type of action being considered has yet to be confirmed. The workers are employed on a €350 million refurbishment programme at the 900 megawatt plant.

According to Eamon Devoy of the TEEU, it has learnt that the main contractor on the project, Lentjens, has decided to dispense with the services of the workers’ employer, Polish subcontractor ZRE Katowicz. They have been told to clear out their lockers at Moneypoint this morning.

“We have a clear mandate from our members to take whatever action is necessary to secure their entitlements,” said Mr Devoy.

“We will be talking to ESB management at noonon Monday to see what the company is prepared to do to meet its obligations. This is a very difficult situation and could have serious implications.

“The obvious solution is for these workers to receive the arrears of pay they are due, their other entitlements such as any pension contributions outstanding, and continuity of employment on the project. This is no more than their due.”

He said ZRE Katowicz is an Irish-based operation with a registered office in Athlone and should be made amenable to the full rigour of Irish employment law and that Lentjens and the ESB must also own up to their responsibilities.

This is not the first controversy to surround ZRE Katowicz’s workers at Moneypoint.

In March 2006 the TEEU discovered they were being paid only €5.20 an hour when, under the Registered Employment Agreement, they were entitled to earn €18.97 plus premium rates for overtime. That entitlement was secured following the threat of industrial action.

* Meanwhile, more than 22,000 Poles living in Ireland were yesterday able to vote in their home country’s parliamentary election.

They cast their votes at the Polish Embassy in Dublin, Mary Street in Cork and at the Irish-Polish Cultural Association in Limerick since early morning.

The main opposition party, Civic Platform, has promised a repeat of Ireland’s economic success in Poland, and ministers have visited Dublin to sell their plans if re-elected.