The ESB-IWU Strike Committee
with a press release on the ongoing industrial action against the ESB

The ESB Branch, Network Technicians

This morning at 8am, over 500 plus members of the Independent Workers Union placed Official Strike Pickets on the premises of their Employer, ESB Networks throughout the country.

All four corners of the country were covered: Donegal, Letterkenny, all Dublin Stations, Swords, Inchicore, South Lotts, Finglas, Leopardstown, Belgard, Waterford, Sligo, Ikerrin, Galway City, Loughrea, Tuam, Clifden, Ballinasloe, Athenry, Athlone, Ennis, Tipperary, Nenagh, Roscommon, Longford, Limerick, Rosbrien, Corbally, Carrick on Shannon, Ballycoolin, Kilkenny, Carlow, Portlaoise, Enniscorthy, Dumanaway, Clashavon, Cork, Middleton, Wiltown, Ballycooin, Mullingar, Kerry, Tralee, Castlebagot, Caherciveen, Sligo, Meath, Navan, Mountgorry, Kilcoole, Wiklow, Arklow to name but a few.

This is the Union's second day of a full work stoppage in their valid legal claim for proper consultation rights under the Information and Consultation Act 2006/08, in relation to the continued outsourcing of their work by the Employer. 

Our members have been almost two years attempting to utilise all the available internal grievance procedures of the Employer to resolve this issue, In that time they have come against nothing more than a brick wall approach from the Employer. Eventually due to the intransigent position being adopted our members were left with no option but to ballot for Industrial Action up to and Including Strike Action.  Proper procedure under the legislation was enacted and the Employer was correctly informed. As set out in the legislation and indeed the code of practice for disputes in an essential service, the Union referred the matter to the WRC Conciliation service for dispute resolution. The company point blank refused to enter this process. We would contend ignoring their duties and responsibilities as an essential service provider Employer.

The Union on numerous occasions has offered the Employer the facility of offering an emergency essential service cover during the dispute if required. To date the Employer has failed to take up this offer with any meaningful contact.

From day one the Union has openly expressed to both the Employer and the Media its continued availability and willingness at all times to enter third party mediation through the good offices of the WRC conciliation services to resolve the issues at the heart of this Official dispute. The Employer continues to refuse to enter this appropriate and accepted process.

Our offer remains on the table at all times.

Rather they have chosen to Issue High Court civil proceedings against the Union and its officials under the Defamation Act 2009 and circulate them widely within the staff arena on the night before the second stoppage. This challenge will be met head on by the Union's legal team. What that has to do to assist in the resolution of an Industrial Dispute is beyond the realms of logic in any forum. Very unsavoury and unhelpful behaviour at a time of increased tensions is certainly not the best approach in overcoming any present difficulties.

It begs the question if the Employer is really concerned about their customers you would imagine they should sit down with their workers' chosen representatives like any reasonable Employer would do.

Today’s support for our action has been overwhelming, from the full turnout of our members. The grateful support shown by our colleagues in the Group of Unions, and indeed most importantly the public at large's support has been fantastic and given us great heart. A deep felt thanks is conveyed to all.

We again apologise for any inconvenience caused to the public as a result of this dispute, not of our making.

Eventually, we would hope some semblance of common sense will be shown by the Employer in moving from their present intransigent position to one of dialogue and discussion to bring this dispute to a satisfactory conclusion in the best interests of all concerned parties.

We patiently await that contact or call. 

The ESB, IWU, NT Section, Strike Committee.

ESB-IWU Strike Committee Press Release

The ESB-IWU Strike Committee
with a press release on the ongoing industrial action against the ESB

The ESB Branch, Network Technicians

This morning at 8am, over 500 plus members of the Independent Workers Union placed Official Strike Pickets on the premises of their Employer, ESB Networks throughout the country.

All four corners of the country were covered: Donegal, Letterkenny, all Dublin Stations, Swords, Inchicore, South Lotts, Finglas, Leopardstown, Belgard, Waterford, Sligo, Ikerrin, Galway City, Loughrea, Tuam, Clifden, Ballinasloe, Athenry, Athlone, Ennis, Tipperary, Nenagh, Roscommon, Longford, Limerick, Rosbrien, Corbally, Carrick on Shannon, Ballycoolin, Kilkenny, Carlow, Portlaoise, Enniscorthy, Dumanaway, Clashavon, Cork, Middleton, Wiltown, Ballycooin, Mullingar, Kerry, Tralee, Castlebagot, Caherciveen, Sligo, Meath, Navan, Mountgorry, Kilcoole, Wiklow, Arklow to name but a few.

This is the Union's second day of a full work stoppage in their valid legal claim for proper consultation rights under the Information and Consultation Act 2006/08, in relation to the continued outsourcing of their work by the Employer. 

Our members have been almost two years attempting to utilise all the available internal grievance procedures of the Employer to resolve this issue, In that time they have come against nothing more than a brick wall approach from the Employer. Eventually due to the intransigent position being adopted our members were left with no option but to ballot for Industrial Action up to and Including Strike Action.  Proper procedure under the legislation was enacted and the Employer was correctly informed. As set out in the legislation and indeed the code of practice for disputes in an essential service, the Union referred the matter to the WRC Conciliation service for dispute resolution. The company point blank refused to enter this process. We would contend ignoring their duties and responsibilities as an essential service provider Employer.

The Union on numerous occasions has offered the Employer the facility of offering an emergency essential service cover during the dispute if required. To date the Employer has failed to take up this offer with any meaningful contact.

From day one the Union has openly expressed to both the Employer and the Media its continued availability and willingness at all times to enter third party mediation through the good offices of the WRC conciliation services to resolve the issues at the heart of this Official dispute. The Employer continues to refuse to enter this appropriate and accepted process.

Our offer remains on the table at all times.

Rather they have chosen to Issue High Court civil proceedings against the Union and its officials under the Defamation Act 2009 and circulate them widely within the staff arena on the night before the second stoppage. This challenge will be met head on by the Union's legal team. What that has to do to assist in the resolution of an Industrial Dispute is beyond the realms of logic in any forum. Very unsavoury and unhelpful behaviour at a time of increased tensions is certainly not the best approach in overcoming any present difficulties.

It begs the question if the Employer is really concerned about their customers you would imagine they should sit down with their workers' chosen representatives like any reasonable Employer would do.

Today’s support for our action has been overwhelming, from the full turnout of our members. The grateful support shown by our colleagues in the Group of Unions, and indeed most importantly the public at large's support has been fantastic and given us great heart. A deep felt thanks is conveyed to all.

We again apologise for any inconvenience caused to the public as a result of this dispute, not of our making.

Eventually, we would hope some semblance of common sense will be shown by the Employer in moving from their present intransigent position to one of dialogue and discussion to bring this dispute to a satisfactory conclusion in the best interests of all concerned parties.

We patiently await that contact or call. 

The ESB, IWU, NT Section, Strike Committee.

4 comments: