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ESB unions to strike if assets sold off

Wednesday, October 24 16:15:41

The ESB group of unions today said that they will oppose any selling off of assets and will go on strike if the Government persists.

The ESB have announced that the Government wants it to dispose of E400m worth of "non-strategic generating assets'" and present this to the Government in the form of a special dividend.

The position of the ESB Group of Unions is for the maintenance of ESB as a publicly owned entity, a joint statement today said.

"In noting the recent motion passed at the biennial ICTU Conference relating to sale of state assets, this Conference directs the Group and affiliate unions to ballot all Union members in ESB for industrial action - up to and including strike action (full withdrawal of labour) in the event of steps being taken to implement any further asset sale, disposal, transfer or divestment, as proposed in the Programme for Government or the McCarthy Report," it said.

"Since this Conference, ESB workers have voted for, accepted and implemented, by agreement, 20pc cuts to the Company payroll. Despite this, the Company is struggling to raise funds to carry out essential works due to borrowing problems brought about by the Sovereign downgrade. Never has the need for ESB to retain its income in the national interest been greater and never has the handing over of State Assets and income to the black hole that is the 'demands of the so-called Troika' been more nonsensical."