Industrial action has been threatened by workers at the ESB in an escalating row over the position of the company's deputy chairman, Mr Joe LaCumbre. Chris Dooley, Industry and Employment Correspondent, reports.
If it goes ahead, the unofficial action could cause power cuts from February 22nd, when the ESB board is next due to meet.
Mr LaCumbre, a worker director, claims he was in effect dismissed from his position following a row with the chairman, Mr Tadgh O'Donoghue. The board voted last week that in the absence of Mr O'Donoghue, another director, Mr Eoin Fahy, should chair meetings.
Following a meeting yesterday, shop stewards in Mr LaCumbre's union, the TEEU, said they would support him by "whatever action is required".
Union sources confirmed that this would mean industrial action, likely to involve rolling strikes at selected locations, starting in three weeks time unless Mr LaCumbre's situation has been resolved.
The row has further complicated efforts to restart talks between ESB unions and management on a continued partnership arrangement at the company.
Official industrial action has been threatened in the event of the company implementing change in the absence of a deal.
Talks have already broken down twice and now an internal row within the ESB group of unions has put future negotiations in doubt.
Tensions had been growing as a result of the differing priorities of the unions involved in the talks, with some wanting to focus on pay and the company's €511 million pension deficit and others pursuing an increased shareholding for workers in the ESB.
Matters have now come to a head with a call by the TEEU for a number of officers of the group of unions to be removed from their positions. It claimed the officers, including the group secretary, Mr Paddy Reilly, attended a meeting with ESB management without prior consultation or agreement with the group's unions.
In a letter to Mr Reilly and other senior officers, TEEU official Mr Davy Naughton said the union was requesting a group meeting "to pass a motion in a manner required for your removal from office". Mr Reilly said last night he had consulted his legal advisers and they were in the process of issuing a reply.
The tensions within the group also manifested themselves recently when the ESB's biggest union, the ATGWU, issued a statement criticising the direction of the negotiations to date.
Against that background, Mr Peter Cassells, who has facilitated the union-management talks, faces a difficult task in getting the parties back to the table. He said last night he was continuing discussions with both sides with a view to finding a basis for recommencing negotiations.
Yesterday's threat to take action was taken by TEEU shop stewards representing about 1,000 electricians and ancillary staff.