TÁNAISTE AND Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Mary Coughlan has announced that Peter Cassells and Finbarr Flood will investigate the recent electricians’ dispute.
Mr Cassells is chairman of the National Centre for Partnership and Performance and former general secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, while Mr Flood is a former chairman of the Labour Court.
Ms Coughlan has asked them to report to her “as a matter of urgency” on the matters that gave rise to a week-long strike by thousands of electricians last month.This followed a dispute between the Technical Engineering and Electrical Union (TEEU) and employers in the electrical contracting industry.
“Both Mr Cassells and Mr Flood have long and distinguished track records in the industrial relations area,” Ms Coughlan said.
Along with the Minister of State for Labour Affairs Dara Calleary, Ms Coughlan said she was calling for full co-operation with the investigation, “the ultimate objective of which is to identify a way to restore the orderly conduct of relationships between all parties into the future”.
Ms Coughlan said the issue of pay had already been dealt with by the Labour Court.
The TEEU’s assistant general secretary, Arthur Hall, welcomed the inquiry but said he was “puzzled” by Ms Coughlan’s statement that the issue of pay had been dealt with.
“As the Tánaiste must be aware, one of the employer groups, the AECI , has rejected the pay terms brokered by the Labour Relations Commission and the Labour Court to secure the suspension of our national strike last month.
“Pay remains an issue at the kernel of the dispute, and without adherence to the terms of the settlement the possibility of renewed industrial action remains very much alive.”
A spokesman for the AECI said it would not be helpful to comment on Ms Coughlan’s announcement at this stage.
Meanwhile, the Electrical Contractors Association (ECA) welcomed the appointments of Mr Cassells and Mr Flood. Spokeswoman Jean Winters said the association was anxious that the investigation be concluded at the earliest possible date.
