ESB technicians return to work as ATGWU calls off strike

More than 1,000 ESB technicians are returning to work this morning following a decision by their union to call off strike action that began on Monday.

The ATGWU called off the stoppage last night after it received assurances from the company that negotiations would take place on the future role of external contractors.

The union, which represents around half of the ESB's technicians, has claimed ESB apprentices are being denied full-time jobs with the company because of the use of outside contractors.

The company has hired around 1,700 such contractors to work on a programme to upgrade the ESB network.