ESB unions vow pre-Christmas strike if pension deficit talks fail

ESB workers will begin potentially disruptive industrial action from Dec 16 if no agreement is reached with management over how to resolve the €1.6bn deficit in the company’s pension scheme.

The constituent member bodies of the ESB group of unions will each lodge individual notices of industrial action upon the company next Friday.

That notice will expire on Dec 16 after which, if no resolution has been found, the industrial action could go ahead.