ESB avert strike action

Threatened strike action at the ESB electricity power plant in Moneypoint, Co Clare was narrowly averted tonight after a deal was agreed to pay wages owed to Polish workers.

Around 200 foreign staff at the plant had not been paid for six weeks and were told over a week ago they had lost their jobs.

But after four days of talks, bosses at the Technical Engineering and Electrical Union (TEEU) received assurances that €600,000 would be paid to the staff.

They were working on a €350m refit at the power plant for sub-contract firm ZRE Katowicz.

Another contractor is taking the lead in the refit project at Moneypoint, German firm Lentjes.

Each worker has been given a signed letter bearing the company seal agreeing to pay for flights to Poland and guaranteeing work at home.

The TEEU said it goes some way to addressing their concerns.

“These workers have lost their jobs and are owed up to six weeks’ wages, holiday pay and payment in lieu of notice,” the union said in a statement.

“The union is also considering other courses of action to retrieve the balance of money due to members, which remain outstanding.

“It is doing so, not only in order to secure payments to members in the interests of fairness and justice but to make an example of employers who are non-compliant.”

The deal was struck following days of talks at the Labour Relations Commission.

It states the ESB and TEEU fully commit themselves to achieving appropriate contractor employment standards.

Both parties are committed to ensuring that all the lessons learned from the dispute are translated into processes and procedures to monitor and enhance standards.

Strike notice had been served on ESB on Monday evening but the TEEU said industrial action is deferred.