Cadbury and Diageo warn of strike’s threat to jobs

DIAGEO and Cadbury, two of the country’s largest employers not directly involved in the electricians’ strike, have warned of the row’s knock-on effect on jobs.

Business lobby group IBEC claimed many companies hit by the stoppage of 10,500 electricians could force firms to cut production and jobs.

Last night, Tánaiste Mary Coughlan appealed to both sides in the dispute to come together, under the aegis of the Labour Relations Commission (LRC), in the understanding that the economic climate had changed. “This is a very serious issue, happening at a time of unprecedented economic difficulties and serious job losses.”

In the first 24 hours of the Technical Engineering and Electrical Union (TEEU) national strike, Diageo Ireland was granted a temporary injunction to stop electricians from picketing at its Guinness brewery in Dublin.

Last night, the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) said the dispute was “extremely damaging” and 4,000 of its members had been placed on protective notice.

Chocolate company Cadbury put workers on protective notice and said production at its north Dublin factory had been severely affected by the pickets, despite the fact that the company “has nothing whatsoever to do with this dispute”.

Diageo Ireland said brewing and production at St James’s Gate brewery had been severely affected since the action began.

High-profile construction projects such as Dublin Airport’s Terminal Two, the new Lansdowne Road stadium and Corrib gas project were affected after last-ditch talks at the LRC collapsed at the weekend.

Pickets were also placed at a number of medical facilities throughout the country, including Cork University Hospital.

SIPTU said it will back the TEEU workers if they are successful in securing an all-out strike. The electricians say they are owed as much as an 11% pay rise from three years ago. Employers dispute this and demand a 10% cut in wages.