SIPTU has called off its strike at the ESB tomorrow following acceptance of a formula by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions which will allow it to represent members in the network technician grade. The formula is based on a similar arrangement made during talks on the ESB's Cost and Competitiveness Review in 1996.
After several hours of talks last night, SIPTU branch secretary Mr Tony Dunne said: "We've deferred strike action. We took the decision on the basis of commitments from the ESB and we look forward to getting into discussions with the company."
The other union involved in the dispute over who should represent network technicians is the Amalgamated Transport and General Workers Union. Its branch secretary, Mr Denis Rohan, said last night the union would be awaiting a report on the discussions before deciding its position. However, the ATGWU had indicated it would accept the ICTU initiative and there are now no immediate threats to power supplies, as the ATGWU has not served strike notice.
An ESB spokesman said it was delighted on behalf of customers that the threat of strike action had been deferred. "We would like to pay tribute to ICTU for brokering the proposals now accepted by ourselves and SIPTU. Meetings in the customer services business unit will now take place between SIPTU and management to discuss the issues."
If the strike had gone ahead power cuts would have been inevitable as SIPTU would have been able to stop production at several major power stations. SIPTU is seeking to represent around 120 members in the network technician grade normally represented by the ATGWU in negotiations
The deferral of the strike will allow talks on a company-wide agreement to go ahead. Talks on the Programme for Action on Competitiveness and Transparency are running weeks behind schedule.
It also lifts a cloud from today's meeting of the ESB board, which has to decide on strategic options to recommend to the Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O'Rourke, on the company's future. It is expected to recommend a partial Initial Public Offer to institutional investors, possibly with a share issue to customers and an enlarged employee share option scheme for the workforce.