Peat cutters at Bord na Móna have voted for industrial action, union leaders said today.
Four hundred employees in Unite, Siptu and the Technical, Electrical and Engineering Union voted overwhelmingly in favour of the move, claiming management have betrayed existing working arrangements.
Unite regional officer Frank Maunsell, chair of the group of unions, called for company bosses to reverse their decision.
“The Bord na Móna workers feel betrayed by the dismissal of a partnership ethos that has served both sides well over many years,” he said.
“They are angered by the way in which management has acted and have expressed a clear mandate to take whatever action is needed to make those feelings clearly known.”
The ballot was called over Bord na Móna’s decision to impose changes in production of peat for power station supply.
Unions claimed the industrial action would potentially cause power cuts but ESB rejected that.
Three power stations use peat, the West Offaly plant in Shannonbridge, Lough Ree in Lanesboro and the Edenderry power station but it is understood the 370 MW of electricity they pump out - about 9 per cent of the country’s needs - would be found in the spare capacity from other stations.
A spokeswoman for the ESB said: “We are aware of the ballot in Bord na Móna and we are not aware of any interruption.”
Union officials said they will meet to co-ordinate the form and date of the action to be taken and unless management offer to change policy notice will be served within the next seven days.
PA