Unions to meet ESB bosses

Unions in the state electricity company are to meet with bosses later this week in a bid to avert strike action, it emerged today.

The ESB Officers Association said after today’s discussions that all of the unions would be seeking some clarifications from the company’s management before the meeting next Friday.

Workers were seeking to boost their 5% stake in the company with an extra 15% shareholding and the unions were also looking for an 18.5% rise in pay.

Tony Dunne, ESBOA general secretary, said: “The 18% is not as prominent, there is a large deficit in the pension fund.

“The situation wasn’t one that emerged over a couple of months, it is €510m in deficit and it is a serious matter.

“It needs to be addressed sooner rather than later. Our view is the pension funds situation has to be addressed. That has assumed a larger importance than the 15 to 18%.”

Mr Dunne said the strike notice which the ESB Officers Association served last week still stands and is due to expire on July 12 next.

Workers voted in favour of strike action two weeks ago when some 8,300 employees were balloted after talks between management and unions broke down.

The company has avoided industrial disputes since 1991 through a series of partnership agreements and it insists that is still the way forward.