Talks aimed at resolving a threatened strike by more than 10,500 electricians from Monday have broken down at the Labour Relations Commission.
Last night the Technical Engineering and Electrical Union (TEEU), which represents the electricians, said that it would attend any talks to resolve the dispute but said that the strike notice for Monday remained in place. However, the talks broke down this afternoon, with no plans for further discussions before Monday's planned strike action.
The TEEU now looks set to place pickets at more than 200 construction sites and at a number of manufacturing firms around the country. The union wants to push the rate for electricians up by more than 11 per cent, from an existing €21.49 to €23.98 an hour. Employers are pleading an inabilty to pay the increase and are looking for a 10 per cent cut in wages.
TEEU general secretary designate Eamon Devoy said that his members were looking for money due to them since 2006/2007.
The Electrical Contractors Association (ECA), the body that represents some of the larger contractors, has said its members were not in a position to pay the increases sought by the electricians.
"The members just cannot afford to pay any increases", ECA executive secretary Chris Lundy told The Irish Times. He said members we're getting Government letters "left, right and centre" looking for cuts in the price of contracts, most recently from the OPW.
He said his organisation was willing to discuss all the issues in relation to the 10 per cent reduction it is seeking as well as the union’s claim for an 11 per cent increase, but that the union was intent on holding the strike. “For some reason they are gung-ho in having a strike," he added.
If the strike should go ahead, work on a number of construction projects such as the Terminal 2 development at Dublin airport, the new Intel project in Co Kildare, the Corrib gas project and the new Lansdowne Road stadium could be affected.