ESB workers defend 3.5% pay hike

ESB workers have strongly defended themselves against what they called “a witch-hunt” from Government ministers over a 3.5% pay increase awarded to them in November.

As more ministers lined up to criticise the pay hike yesterday, unions representing the ESB said there was a “deliberate strategy of making ordinary working people pay for the economic crisis created by over a decade of mismanagement of our economy”.

The ESB has argued that it was honouring a commitment under the National Pay Deal agreed under the social partnership process.

Minister for Communications and Energy, Eamon Ryan, said that process also agreed increases in productivity and he hopes the ESB will deliver benefits that lead to a further drop in prices.

Transport Minister Noel Dempsey said: “I don’t think anyone in Government is at all happy about the fact that this increase is paid in the current circumstances,” adding that it was “entirely up to the company” if they should revoke the money.

Justice Minister Dermot Ahern said earlier that the pay rise was “crass in the extreme” and urged the ESB to rethink the move.

It followed remarks by the leader of the Green Party and Minister for the Environment John Gormley who said there was “widespread concern” in Government over the rises.

Eamon Devoy of the Technical Engineering and Electrical Union (TEEU) who represents ESB workers said: “Dermot Ahern and John Gormley in particular seem intent on following the pro-employer agenda of driving down pay and conditions as the easiest way out of the crisis. It started with a witch hunt against public servants, many earning less than the average wage and have occupational pensions of less than €100 a week.

“Now the attack has moved on to ESB workers. Who will be next? The only sin committed by ESB workers is they accepted a pay increase negotiated through the social partnership last year,” he said.

Fine Gael spokesman on communications, Simon Coveney said ESB chief executive, Padraig McManus, must come before an Oireachtas committee to explain the pay increase.

“Pay increases at the ESB are ridiculous, unjustified and management must come before the Oireachtas to explain just why on earth 3.5% increases have been granted at this time,” he said.

“The national pay deal is no longer in existence and appropriate decisions must be taken in light of this.”