The ESB Officers' Association has lodged a claim with the State power company for a 16.5 per cent increase. The claim comes as the company prepares for further rationalisation to prepare for competition.
Meanwhile the ATGWU, which represents several blue collar grades in the ESB has called for a Midlands forum to be set up to discuss how jobs can be found for workers in the area. ATGWU organiser Mr Denis Rohn said 3,000 jobs have been shed in the region by the ESB and Bord na Mona over the past 10 years.
Announcements of closures at the ESB generating plants in Shannonbridge, Ferbane, Rhode, Lanesboro and Bellacorick over the next five years, along with Bord na Mona closure of its briquette factory at Croghan, Co Offaly, will see another 500 jobs go.
The Midlands has the worst job creation record of any region in the State and Mr Rohan's call comes only days after SIPTU regional secretary, Mr Jack O'Connor, made a similar call.
The ESBOA represents more than 2,000 white-collar workers in the ESB.
However, its general secretary, Mr Willie Cremins, said members do not feel adequately rewarded for past productivity, especially in the light of pay increases to other public service workers. ESB employees are excluded from the latest 3 per cent award for teachers and civil servants, paid as compensation for increases to nurses and gardai.
The ESBOA members have also fallen behind ESB engineers, whose pay scales have just been restructured. The claim comes as ESB unions and management enter talks on a restructuring agreement to follow the Cost and Competitiveness Review, agreed in 1996.