This afternoon’s meeting of the ESB Group of Unions has ended, but no decision has been made whether strike action will go ahead on 12 July.
Union officials have decided to hold a full meeting of the group of unions this Friday at 11am, but in the meantime they will be seeking clarification from the company to establish if there is a basis for resuming talks on a new in-house partnership agreement.
Since 1991 the ESB has avoided industrial action through a series of in-house partnership agreements.
However, staff now want an 18.5% pay rise and an increase in their shareholding in the company from 5% to almost 20%. Workers are also concerned about a deficit in the pension fund of over €0.5 billion.
Talks between management and unions broke down around two weeks ago. An ESB spokesperson described the threat of industrial action as totally unwarranted.
Meanwhile, the two-weeks' strike notice issued by the ESBOA remains in place.
With the possibility of strike action at the ESB, the Green Party has called call on the Government to outline its policy on the future of the company.
Energy spokesperson for the Party, Eamon Ryan TD, said: 'The threatened strike at the ESB would have a devastating effect on the Irish economy.
'The unions seem to want to have it all in their demand for both an 18% pay rise and a 20% stake in the company.'
'Perhaps they have been encouraged into taking that position by the lack of any clear strategy from the Government with regard to the future development of the ESB.'
