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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pi0Fqcgyrm0
YouTube: Video TheJournal.ie
TWO CABINET MINISTERS have criticised possible strike action by workers at ESB next month, describing it as “a very unnecessary dispute” and a “retrograde step”.
Speaking to the media outside Government Buildings this morning, Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney said that strike action is “the last thing the Irish economy needs right now”.
“This would be a real retrograde step and it shouldn’t happen,” Coveney said, calling for talks between management and unions to avert strike and possible power cuts as a result. (Watch more in the video above)
In similar comments on RTÉ this morning, Transport Minister Leo Varadkar said that there is no threat of any job losses, pay or pension cuts at the electricity company which makes the possibility of strike action next month “totally unnecessary”.
Workers at the State company have threatened strike on 16 December, pending a meeting with company executives later this week. The dispute centres around an agreement in 2010 to address the €1.6 billion deficit in the company’s pension scheme, which unions say the company has breached.
“There are a lot of pension funds in Ireland that are in trouble, the ESB pension fund is not one of them,” Varadkar told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland. “According to the pensions board it’s full funded until 2018 and will actually be in surplus after that.”
He said that funding plan had been agreed to bring ESB’s pension fund “back to financial health” and said that the dispute centres over the accounting treatment of the scheme and whether it is defined benefit or defined contribution.
“Nobody’s job is being threatened here, nobody is being asked to take an additional pay cut and nobody’s pension is under threat,” he said.
“So you know it seems to me that this rush into industrial action really is unnecessary and unwarranted.”
Varadkar said he did not anticipate the government introducing emergency legislation to avert strike action as Retail Excellence Ireland has called for this morning.
He said that he is not concerned about how strike action the day after Ireland formally exits the bailout will look, but the impact it will have.
“It may well look terrible but it’s not how it look that really bothers me,” he said. “It’s the impact on businesses, on schools, on primary healthcare centres, for example, and just on households and families.
“So, like I say, this to me seems like a unnecessary dispute and an unreasonable threat.”
Video: Nicky Ryan at Government Buildings
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ESB workers need to cop on. They are way overpaid and are arrogant to boot.
This country doesn’t need or want power outages just because a few spoilt children aren’t getting what they want.
ESB workers are standing up for their rights and their terms and conditions. They have the balls to go toe to toe with the bully boys, I say fair play to them. If the government don’t want power outages they should step in and tell the management to honour the agreements. As for being overpaid, I think that’s harsh, the workers didnt dictate their terms and conditions?
It’ll never go ahead anyway… the union are blowing hot air up everyones arse… they’ll see the light at the eleventh hour…
Whoever turns off any grid as part of this strike action, putting lives at risk should be charged with attempted murder.
Peter obviously works for ESB.
I don’t work for the esb
The face they are by far and away the highest paid electricity workers across all of Europe has nothing to do with people questioning this unnecessary strike!!!
Well said, touché
Your Dead right Peter, everyone complains of the Government walking all over the worker when a group decide to take a stand they are the worst in the world. Good on the ESB workers it’s a pity the rest of the workers won’t grow a set of Balls and stand up to jellyfish we call government,.
Bet there is no gaping hole in their pension trough……going forward and all that!!
I don’t know why they want to strike I mean if someone came in and took €380million from my pension I would be overjoyed sure why not take it all
Yeah I dont see why they arent treated like the workers in AIB, who got their pension deficit filled by the tax payer to the tune of €1billion
I might be wrong but I’d say all the talks have been done as far as industrial action is a last resort. This whole spin in the media about the power outages is true but it’s a bi-product of the management not honouring the agreements. Simple as that, if management honour their agreements then there’s no strike. I don’t work for the esb but I totally respect the workers stance
When Irish citizens of both present and future where laboured with billions of debt that wasn’t there own there wasn’t a single public or semi public body that stood by ordinary Irish people. In return we don’t care. You will still have fat pensions by default way above what each worker is worth so do us a favour and put up or shut up
I dont think the public understand whats at stake for these workers. Changing defined benefit pension to defined contribution would be a disaster for retiring workers. The Unions need to communicate this better. I for one while not looking forward to any potential power cut understand why this stand is being taken. 5 years of workers taking the pain for poor management at the top of the public and private sector and in government and workers taking the hammering for that to cover their failures. If they get this sorted in their favour maybe it will inspire the rest of us to push back and protect our terms and conditions.
Ps. Im not an esb worker and have no association with the organisation
People of this nation would want to cop on to them selves. ESB workers are RIGHT to strike. Its about time we woke up to what this government is up to, and Stop rushing to the bottom at every chance. Support your fellow workers.
It would appear most of the contributors on here are against any group who dare go on strike, if there is the slightest chance of even the most minor inconvenience. Anyone who has looked into this dispute can see exactly who they are threatening strike action, and I certainly agree with them. It’s time we all stopped bending over and dropping trou.
They’re in extremely high paying jobs threatening to bring down the country unless their pension pot is filled. They should do what Reagan did with the air traffic controllers in the 80s. Train up a new lot and fire them all
High paid jobs?? Do you think they just walked in and got these jobs??? They all done an electrical apprentiship for 4 years and they work in extremely dangerous conditions where they could die if mistakes are made.
They are highly skilled and professional. I understand that nobody wants a power cut but let’s be fair to the real story.
I couldn’t agree more, just get tough and fire the lot of them
Kenneth genius response, one question replace them with whom?
That bright spark would probably have them replaced with ScamBridge victims!
Kenneth
I take it you would take one of these ESB jobs and so be hanging off a 45m high pylon with 400,000 volts of electricity knowing that your employeer has broken your employment contract.
If the TD’s pension pot was that much out would Leo be saying the same ???
Christmas holidays soon for Leo and the gang, back for a week then Easter then summer. How many days do they work for there fat pension.
Nice one Leo and so say all of us.
Whether they are right or wrong, I can’t say. But I do know that a lot of vulnerable people will be in serious trouble. There are untold numbers of children / adults of all ages managing to live at home but needing home oxygen, nebulisers & lots of other medical equipment. All this equipment needs electricity. And then there’s the cold etc. people will not survive! A & E depts will be inundated & as we all know are already struggling.
Unions have no problem letting people die they couldn’t care less about anyone or anything except their own personal greed. I would love to see them all fired for their disgraceful actions they are just a bunch of common thugs and bullies
Kenneth,
Your concern for the welfare of the people is touching.
Will you be campaigning vigorously for the repudiation of illegitimate banking debt now so that Ireland is not reduced to taking medical cards from seriously ill children in order to cover the private gambling debts of speculators?
http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/eirin-needs-45-syringes-a-day-but-has-lost-her-medical-card-246862.html
Coddler, hardly when he praises government policy at every opportunity.
Highly dedicated and skilled ‘thugs and bullies’ merely exercising their constitutional right as so not to be stroked by a similar gang of white collar shysters to the one’s who killed the fattened ‘Tiger’ and still feast on the carcass!
Leo your government’s continued attacks on workers and their families is unreasonable.
Motor mouth.
Getting Santa to bring me a generator
I absolutely agree with both ministers. Ogle has a history of militant action over years now. Do we really think cutting the power supply to an entire country is a reasonable threat to sort out a pension dispute years away from being a problem? No heat, no light, no schools, no offices, no telly, etc. This is a sledgehammer to crack a nut. How many workers are affected… 1000?, 5000? And this small coterie feel they can hold 5 million people to ransom to be used as pawns in their silly games. Ashamed of Ogle… once again.
Hairy Lemon, focusing on B.Ogle is completely missing the point. He is the secretary of a group of FIVE unions which voted for action by a margin of 87%. He is simply the messenger.
@Brendan
Not only is he the messenger…. he also defined the message and whips up suport for that message. Ogle had a long history of this type of thing. I don’t think you can separate the message and the messenger in this case.
Brendan what % of the people involved actually voted? Usually unions have a way of getting whatever they want through manipulation and people just being unwilling to vote against the union even if they completely disagree with it.
Dead right Leo how dare these people hold our country to random they are a bunch of selfish greedy weasels and an absolute disgrace
You sound like a very level headed, highly educated fella. Well done on that excellent argument. A country full of guys like you and we wouldn’t be in any mess.
Joe
Could you expand on whom you are referring to as “a bunch of selfish greedy weasels and an absolute disgrace”?
Would it be the Eirgrid workers who in a few months will be expected to climb to the top of 45m high pylons that nobody in the country wants to see erected and will face intimidation and in some cases physical abuse, or Leo & Simon and the other politicians & their banker friends?
I’m going to enjoy Leo and Simon eating their words.
and they have, nom, nom, nom, This is a real success, success that comes with standing together. It’s a pity we didn’t all stand up together and refuse to have our wealth stolen from us by banksters and their FF/FG cronies.
Let’s keep going so all in ryanair hunger games!! ryanair won’t hire Irish pilots. The ruthless abusive attitude of airline to its staff seen all over Europe. So while esb staff have it handy begrudgery is not the answer!! Workers are being made to stack shelves on jobbeidge scam for 50 euro. We all need to wake up to the slavery model we are being sucked into!!!
The lies about country being broke recession, the country is loaded just diverting billions to bond holders. Leo must know this even he must be able to see if you give away 60% of your income ur going to be poor
Katie that was hilarious cheers for giving me a good laugh
This story has massive weight behind it as we all well know Leo and Simon are a part of a government that has placed unacceptable and unnecessary hardships on the people of this country. So they definitely understand the meaning of the words. Pot kettle.
Totally agree Dav, I just feel as a worker that has taken massive cuts and extra taxes like everyone else in this country we all need to stand up and say enough is enough! We have contracts of employment and agreed terms and conditions for a reason. Otherwise what’s the point in having them at all???
Deeply silly comment, Jason. If you had bothered to follow this story you would know that the union side have gone through all the hoops on this one. The company changed the arrangement without consultation which is why five unions voted by 87% for this.
Jason excellently put this is simple bullying by the evil unions and nothing else.
Jason, I know what your saying but there business is going to affect the public so are they not entitled to strike?? They have been involved in long winded talks and the esb management are reneging on their agreements! They have gone down the right channels and procedures and are at the end. The only action is now to strike, I’m sure the workers would like the management to honour what has been agreed and not have to strike
I thought ‘unnecessary and unreasonable’ has been standard government policy for some years now?
Rarely would I agree with the minister for buffoonery but the is absurd nonsense. How can these extremely well paid employees be permitted to threaten strike action because “god bless them” their personal pensions are at risk. Perhaps they would be well advised to speak to some former waterford crystal workers. At an average of €75k per annum per employee they should be ashamed of themselves.
ESB, can’t you see the nation isn’t supporting you!
Tell convey his pension was reduced to 3 % of what it was, then watch all hit the fan.
“Unnecessary and unreasonable” … your headline caught my eye. I thought Leo was referring to the Property/Bondholder Tax – you know the one that was “unfair and unjust”.
leo … and so is your government
“nobody’s pension is under threat”
So Leo & Simon I take it the two of you are willing to open your private cheque books and write 2 cheques to cover the €1.6 billion hole in the ESB pension fund?
If not then shut up.
No…. the workers should provide for their own retirement.
Simple as.
Ricky how little you know about these EBA pensions.
Under their (until now legally binding contracts) they were forced to hand over 8% of their wages to the company to be used towards their pension, so they have been providing for their own pension. The problem here is the company are now refusing to uphold their part of the deal regarding the pensions.
Now onto the bigger subject of “workers should provide for their own retirement”. I take it you would support the Government scrapping the old age pension to anybody who has not worked all their lives?
The comments on here show yet more proof of how easily the Irish fall for propaganda. Most people commenting probably don’t even know the reason for the strike! It is 100 years since the lockout and Irish sheeple have become more conservative
Power to you lads!!
And there was me looking to see if I could find “Leo” in the comments section with so many supporting him. !
A government minister who is finally talking sense.
I don’t want anyone to go on strike and there has been some royal f ups managing our semi states but this is really about the management not doing there job and every person with a pension should take heed of this one because this is by all standards a test case to see how your pension can be stolen from you with out so much as a by your leave . Where are labour on this one? Conveniently No where to be seen. Be careful of the government hype all.
Public anger is rising at these unions and their disgraceful antics. It’s time to ban them
Not a hope……so long as the likes of IBEC and their minions strive to exploit and debase at any cost!
It’s time to ban trolls like Kenneth-One-Follower
Send in army engineers to run the grid and let them strike away
How many qualified electrical engineers do you think the army have?
There is always one idiotic “send in the army” post.
The Irish people need to show solidarity with the unions fighting to protest the wages and conditions of ordinary workers. However, the unions also need to broaden their outlook beyond their own sectional interests and demonstrate solidarity with the people.
The ESB unions had the ability to stop the imposition of the Home Tax robbery dead in its tracks this year by depriving the Revenue’s computers of the electricity they needed to implement the Troika’s bond holder tax. The An Post workers had the power to stop the delivery of the ECB’s extortion letters before they dropped through a single letterbox.
The unions and everybody else needs to wake up and start thinking in terms of ‘We’ rather than ‘I’. The country is being looted to pay for the failure of speculative financial capitalism and we won’t stop this until we stand together.
The government are over paid two .its about time workers stand up for themselves
These “ordinary dacent wurkers” are looking for you & me & every Irish citizen to come up with €1.6 billion to give them the generous retirement their pension contributions go nowhere near paying for.
If you still support that, please feel free to pay my share of the 1.6 billion.
Carcu, and anyone else for that matter, should do the numbers. The pension pot is short by €1.6Bn. So are plenty of other pension pots by varying amounts. However, unless more than a third of ESB workers decide to cash in their chips at the same time.. ie in the immediate future, it’s not a problem. The pot can be replenished over time and the unions know that. The real issue here is the difference between DB and DC pensions. The unions want to keep DB pension entitlements – hey I don’t blame them – its a nice perk – but threatening to cut off the power the week before Christmas is utterly ridiculous. Then again… I remember Brendan Ogle and ILDA – the train drivers organisation he led for a while. ‘Nuff said
I was to be a supporter of the ESB workers but this strike bollocks is unacceptable.
Why are they still calling it ESB. Didn’t they just spend a fortune re branding it Electric Ireland.
Hi while i welcome any person right to strike.am i missing the point here brendan ogle is the same person who in the not distance past spoke at a meeting with a group that would link it self with people with whom would like to shoot or bomb people less than 200 miles from the hq the esb.only yesterday a man was forcedbto move a bomb.a bomb that has now led us to have armed checkpionts in the shopping malls if belfast.most of leaving fear in peoole.will there be fear in dundalk or athlone this christmas.i doubt it. Peoples rights are correct to be protected brendan who is protecting the bystander in belfast to day brendan
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