Union issues warning over ESB walkout

There will be widespread consequences when workers stage a large-scale strike next week, a union leader at the ESB warned tonight.

Some 2,300 workers from the ESB Officers’ Association are to take to the picket lines on Monday next, over pay issues and a deficit in the pension funds.

General secretary Tony Dunne said: “Given that our members work in all parts of the company there certainly would be widespread consequences.”

The union boss said he could not confirm if the first industrial dispute at the company in over a decade would cause electricity blackouts around the country.

But he said their strike action would get widespread support across the company.

The executive committee today endorsed the strike notice, which the ESB Officers’ Association served several weeks ago.

It was due to expire on July 12 next.

Mr Dunne said: “David Begg, the general secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions has intervened.

“We are hoping that his efforts will bear fruit. That remains to be seen.

“At the moment our notice is served, what is needed is a measure to resolve outstanding issues.”

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.

The unions are also concerned over a €510m deficit in the pension fund.

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

The pay and conditions at the ESB have been operated under a series of partnership agreements – the last of which expired last month.

The other unions decided not to serve strike action on the company to give Mr Begg time to raise their concerns with the company.

Labour Party TD, Tommy Broughan, said the Government had plenty of time to intervene to ward off the strike action.

Mr Broughan said: “From Monday 2,300 ESB workers will go on strike in the first industrial dispute at the company for over a decade.

“Minister Dermot Ahern let the situation at ESB deteriorate before anything was done to prevent strike action.

“It has been left to the ICTU General Secretary, David Begg, to attempt to resolve the dispute.”