Industrial action ballot at Bord Na Móna

Industrial stoppages could be just days away at Bord Na Móna, with staff due to begin a ballot for action today.

The group of unions at the company — which includes members of Siptu, Unite, and the Technical Engineering and Electrical Union — are unhappy at what they describe as a management proposal to “eliminate existing posts and replace them with posts that attract less favourable terms and conditions of employment”.

According to Siptu organiser John Regan, who is secretary of the group of unions, workers in the financial and shared services of the business are impacted by the company’s proposals.

Mr Regan said the action could escalate to strikes if the unions’ concerns were not addressed and that it could spread to workers across the operation.

The ballot, which begins today, is expected to be completed by Friday and industrial action could begin within two weeks if the vote is in favour.

Last week, the group said it asked for the matter to be referred for a full hearing at the Labour Court. However, it said management had not agreed to that request.

It said it was its “unequivocal position” that if the appointment process proceeded, the employer would be in serious breach of its established procedures.

The appointments issue is just one of 11 that the company and unions have been discussing at the Labour Relations Commission.

Another is a claim for a 3.5% pay increase which the unions have been seeking since 2009. Three years ago, more than 1,000 workers staged strike action over that pay claim.

However, Mr Regan said all the other issues have been parked until the appointments matter is dealt with.

Last week, the unions claimed that over the 75 years of Bord Na Móna’s existence, many organisational changes had been successfully introduced by management when it engaged with workers and their representatives. However, it accused management of now adopting a “draconian approach” to negotiations.

A spokesman for Bord Na Móna last night said it had written to the group of unions last Friday following mediation at the Labour Relations Commission.

It said it believed the discussions under the auspices of the Labour Relations Commission should continue.