Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 June 2004
51 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the information available to him regarding the industrial relations situation in the ESB and the threat of industrial action that may lead to electricity blackouts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19196/04]
View answerThe industrial relations situation in the ESB is a matter to be dealt with in accordance with the established industrial relations procedures within the company and is not one in which I have a function. As the Deputy will be aware, a ballot was undertaken by the ESB group of unions in May 2004, which provided a mandate for industrial action in circumstances where the company proposes or proceeds with structural or organisational change which impacts on staff without prior agreement. On foot of this mandate, the group of unions held a meeting yesterday to consider its position in the light of developments on a range of industrial relations issues. While no decision was taken at that meeting, a further meeting of the group of unions is scheduled for next Friday, 2 July 2004.
In a related development, the ESB Officers Association, ESBOA, served notice of industrial action on the company last Friday, 25 June 2004. This will take effect on 12 July 2004 and the union has indicated there will be a withdrawal of labour on that date. I view all of these developments with great concern and expect that the ESB management and unions will use all the industrial relations mechanisms available to them to ensure the situation does not escalate. In the meantime, I have asked my officials to keep me fully briefed on the situation as it develops.
