ESB calls on union to desist from further strike action
Reporter:
5 May 2021
A member of the Independent Workers Union on picket duty at ESB offices, Carrick. Picture: Gerry Faughnan );
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ESB Networks says the industrial action by network technicians who are members of the Independent Workers Union (IWU) is unnecessary.
The industrial action was initially in the form of a work-to-rule since Monday, 19 April. This escalated into separate 24-hour strikes on Friday, 23 April and Thursday, 29 April.
A 48-hour strike commenced yesterday, Tuesday at 8am and will continue through to Thursday at 8am.
ESB Networks confirms that there has been limited impact to electricity customers as a result of the industrial action to date and contingency planning continues for the next 48 hours and beyond.
Striking ESB Network technicians extend pickets
Updated / Tuesday, 4 May 2021
15:22
Industry and Employment Correspondent
ESB Networks technicians belonging to the Independent Workers Union have extended their pickets to work locations which had not previously been picketed.
The union claims to represent over 500 of the company s 1,500 network technicians.
It said extending their pickets could increase the risk of disruption for customers, as workers from other unions who were previously free to work in those locations may refuse to pass pickets.
The IWU network technicians commenced their latest two-day strike at 8am, which they say centres on the company s failure to consult adequately on the outsourcing of certain work.
Industry and Employment Correspondent
ESB Networks has acknowledged that industrial action by some network technicians has caused limited impact to customers, and called on the Independent Workers Union to cancel a further two-day strike due to get under way tomorrow morning.
The network technicians belonging to the Independent Workers Union have been engaged in a work-to-rule since 19 April, and have also held two 24-hour strikes.
They say the dispute is over the right to be consulted about outsourcing of certain work to private contractors - and claim to represent over 500 of the company s 1500 network technicians.
However, the company does not recognise the IWU, which rejects suggestions that the dispute is really over union recognition.
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Miners in Chiatura, Georgia strike to demand pay increase and improved conditions
Over 3,000 workers in the Georgian mining town of Chiatura joined an indefinite walkout on April 23 to demand Georgian Manganese grant a 50 percent pay rise, health insurance and environmental protections for the area near the mine.
According to the
Governance Monitoring Center, drivers working for the company in Chiatura wrote to the Minister of Health listing their demands hiring a lawyer to represent them rather than acting through the union and walked out on April 19. They were joined on April 23 by miners and other workers at Georgian Manganese.
A number of ESB Network Technicians in Donegal are striking today.
Employees belonging to the Independent Workers Union who have been engaging in a work-to-rule since last week are striking today for a second time due to claims of a dispute over ESB s failure to consult adequately about the outsourcing of certain work.
The company has confirmed that it has formally issued proceedings in the High Court against the IWU seeking damages and other reliefs.
ESB are calling on the union to desist from further action.