A strike by ESB workers that could cause localised power cuts at the weekend is set to go ahead from tomorrow in the absence of an eleventh-hour intervention to avert it.
The unofficial action by network technicians, who are members of the TEEU, arises from the boardroom row over the position of the company's deputy chairman, Mr Joe LaCumbre.
Shop stewards representing the workers involved yesterday reaffirmed their intention to go ahead with the industrial action.
They said network technicians, responsible for operating and maintaining the ESB's distribution network, would stop work from normal starting time tomorrow and not return until Monday. As a result, any breakdowns in service would not be repaired over the weekend.
Mr LaCumbre claims he was in effect removed from his position after he questioned the continued payment by the ESB of a dividend to the Government while it has a €511 million pension deficit. The ESB board voted recently that in the absence of its chairman, Mr Tadhg O'Donoghue, another board member, Mr Eoin Fahy, would act as chair. Mr LaCumbre says this amounted to his dismissal as deputy chair.