Strike could affect electricity supplies

ELECTRICAL supplies could be severely affected by as early as this afternoon after the Technical, Engineering and Electrical Union (TEEU) yesterday served strike notice with immediate effect on one of the ESB’s largest plants.

Up to 200 Polish workers at Moneypoint station voted in favour of industrial action on Sunday night, claiming they had not been paid since the beginning of September and faced the prospect of losing their jobs.

They were working on a €350 million refurbishment programme at the 900 megawatt station in Clare, which supplies approximately one-eighth of the country with electricity.

The workers balloted for action after they learnt the main contractor on the project, Lentjes, has decided to dispense with the services of the workers’ employer, Polish subcontractor ZRE Katowicz, and they were told to clear out their lockers.

TEEU, which has 50 of the 230 permanent workers at the plant, deferred the service of notice on the ESB until it met with the company yesterday afternoon.

However, following that meeting the union confirmed it was to set up pickets at the plant with immediate effect. It said as well as the 200 Polish workers, the 50 permanent staff would also take part in the picket and it would be asking the other unions with members at the plant not to pass the picket line.

“Some people said it was unfair of us not to give seven days notice of the action to the company. It was also unfair that these 200 workers weren’t given any notice before their jobs were threatened,” said Eamon Devoy of TEEU.

In a letter to the company Mr Devoy wrote: “It appears from our information that it is proposed to replace the workers by engaging a new sub-contractor with an alternative workforce in breach of your legal obligations under TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings Regulations), and in a disgraceful disregard of any obligations to the employees or procedures.”

The letter added that the workers have not been paid their wages for more than six weeks and have been denied some of their other legal entitlements for over a year. “We are very strongly of the opinion that a solution to this impasse can only be resolved through direct dialogue and engagement between the TEEU and all the parties,” said Mr Devoy.

“The TEEU warns that, failing this, the union will initiate industrial action.”

Meanwhile, the Labour Relations Commission has intervened in the dispute and sought a meeting with both sides at 11am today. Mr Devoy said the union had accepted the invitation.

In a statement, the ESB said: “ESB stresses that it has met all its obligations including proper payments to its contractor Lentjes who sub-contracted ZRE to carry out mechanical works on the project.

“ESB at all times acted in accordance with the terms of its contract and at all times upheld Irish and EU employment law.”