Staff at the ESB Rhode peat plant in Co Offaly have voted to accept a €20 million redundancy package.
Workers stand to get between €100,000 and €250,000 each, depending on years of service at the plant. The result will put an end to a long-running dispute at the plant, which has been closed since May 2001.
Of the votes cast, 64 voted in favour, two against and there were four spoilt votes. The remaining 40 or so workers at the plant who did not vote on the issue will be entitled to avail of the package.
Workers rejected the deal last month by a narrow majority, the second time the ESB offer was rejected by ballot. The company then withdrew the offer, prompting 64 workers to ask for a postal ballot on the original offer.
Following months of talks, the basic package consists of four years' salary in a lump sum and half a year's pay until retirement age. Had workers rejected the offer, they stood to lose between €40,000 and €60,000 which was offered as part of an additional package by the ESB.
Most of the 104-strong staff have clocked in for work each week since production stopped following an explosion at the plant in May 2001.
This has caused the ESB to spend an estimated €60,000 per week on wages and other costs, including shift and overtime allowances and local and national pay increases.
Following the explosion at the plant, it was decided it could not be brought back into operation in a manner that would ensure the safety of workers. The decision was then made to close the Rhode station. But talks followed as workers continued to turn up at the plant for work.
Matters complicated when talks stalled due to concerns expressed by the 100 workers in relation to exposure, or potential exposure, to asbestos. The ESB insisted such health concerns were a separate issue.
Workers will now take the redundancy package or can take the opportunity to be retrained and relocate.