State close to intervening in dispute

THE Government last night appeared close to intervening decisively in the five-day old electricians’ dispute as the battle took on a further legal twist.

Electricians will this morning continue to mount pickets outside a number of high-profile construction sites and large companies in protest at employers’ failure to pay 11% wage increases recommended under industry-binding Registered Employment Agreements (REAs).

Progress had initially been made yesterday morning after employers told electricians’ unions they were no longer trying to force through a pay cut of almost 10% in the industry or a weakening of terms and conditions guaranteed to staff under the REA.

However, with that major step forward, in what had previously been considered an intractable dispute, came a group of employers outside the negotiating table who threatened legal action against any deal which might emerge from the talks at the Labour Relations Commission.

The National Electrical Contractors of Ireland, who were later joined in their threat by a further group of unaligned employers, could bring any new deal to its knees.

TEEU general secretary Owen Wills, representing the electricians, said: “External forces are seeking to ensure there is no settlement to the dispute. These elements have been seeking to destabilise the Registered Employment Agreements since late 2007.

“As a result they are making a difficult dispute almost impossible to resolve. They range from very senior interests in the construction industry to small contractors, but they share one common objective, dismantling REAs so that they can pursue a race to the bottom unhindered.”

Last night, Kieran Mulvey, chief executive of the LRC, who is mediating between unions and those employers who are not outside the door, met with the Tánaiste to brief her on progress in the talks before returning to brief the sides.

It is understood she said she thought it was worth continuing.

However, it is understood that Mr Mulvey did indicate to the sides that the LRC was fast exhausting its role in the dispute.

If that happens the Tánaiste may invoke powers under the 1990 Industrial Relations Act.

Under section 38 (1) of that Act, “where the minister is of the opinion that a trade dispute, actual or apprehended, affects the public interest, he may refer the matter to the commission or the court, which shall endeavour to resolve the dispute”.