CPA - The Guardian

The Technical Engineering and Electrical Union (TEEU), which represents the electricians, said that it would attend any talks to resolve the dispute but said that the strike notice remained in place. However, the talks broke down, with no plans for further discussions before the planned strike action this week.

The TEEU now looks set to place pickets at more than 200 construction sites and at a number of manufacturing firms around the country. The union wants to push the rate for electricians up by more than 11 percent. Employers are pleading an inability to pay the increase and are looking for a 10 percent cut in wages.

TEEU general secretary designate Eamon Devoy said that his members were looking for money due to them since 2006/2007.

The Electrical Contractors Association (ECA), the body that represents some of the larger contractors, has said its members were not in a position to pay the increases sought by the electricians.

“The members just cannot afford to pay any increases”, ECA executive secretary Chris Lundy told The Irish Times . He said members we’re getting government letters “left, right and centre” looking for cuts in the price of contracts.

If the strike goes ahead, work on a number of construction projects such as the Terminal 2 development at Dublin airport, the new Intel project in Co Kildare, the Corrib gas project and the new Lansdowne Road stadium could be affected.

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