22 September 2005 Edition

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Strike at ESB

ESB apprentice workers protesting at the offices of the TEEU asking for proper representation from their union

ESB apprentice workers protesting at the offices of the TEEU asking for proper representation from their union

Over 1,000 ESB workers are on the picketline, as An Phoblacht goes to press, in the first major strike at the company since 1991. Early reports indicate that so far the pickets have been widespread across the 26 Counties and despite earlier reports suggesting strike-breaking by ATGWU members in the South Dublin area, the situation there has now been resolved.

The decision to strike was approved by a ballot of 91% of ATGWU technicians and went ahead following the refusal of the ESB to agree to meet with the worker's representatives to resolve the dispute.

This meeting had been due to go ahead on Monday morning at 11am but at 8.30am the ATGWU was informed that the ESB cancelled the meeting despite the decision of the union to withdraw strike action proposed by Monday as a confidence-building measure.

The ATGWU has consistently said it is open to talks at any time with ESB management or indeed any other union with a vested interest in Networks, who may wish to put their point of view.

Private contractors

The ESB's employment of 1,700 external contractors, alongside the company's 2,200 network technicians is at the core of the dispute. The number of private contractors involved in the delivery of a €3.6 billion programme to upgrade the network is restricting the promotion prospects of ESB apprentice technicians.

Of the 107 apprentices currently employed by the company, 56, only slightly more than half, have been offered permanent contracts with the company owing to the presence of literally hundreds of private contractors.

Just over half the ESB's network technicians are represented by the ATGWU, with the others represented by SIPTU and the Technical, Electrical and Engineering Union (TEEU), both of whom are opposed to the strike. The strike has so far had no effect on the supply of electricity.

In a related development, a number of members of the Technical, Electrical and Engineering Union (TEEU) employed as ESB apprentices occupied the hallway of their own headquarters on Monday night over the union's lack of representation in the dispute.


An Phoblacht
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Ireland