UNIONS REPRESENTING the ESB's 7,800 workers formally lodged a €60 million pay claim with the State electricity company's management yesterday.

The ESB group of unions are seeking an 11.25 per cent pay increase over 18 months, based on cost of living increases, concessions made by the workforce and the company's profitability.

Both the company and the unions themselves confirmed yesterday that the claim has been formally lodged with ESB management.

The ESB would not comment, beyond saying that it was hopeful that the revived talks on a national pay deal involving the Government and social partners would come to a successful conclusion.

As it supports the national process, the ESB would pay any increase agreed in those talks.

Its unions, including Unite, Siptu and the Technical, Electrical and Engineering Union agreed on the scale of the claim last week after getting the go-ahead from members several days earlier to formulate it.

Based on the €570 million that the ESB paid workers last year, an 11.25 per cent payrise would be worth just over €60 million a-year.

The unions want the increase paid over 18 months. It is based on 5 per cent a year inflation and 3.75 per cent to compensate members for various concessions that they have made to management in recent years, including agreeing to the sale of the Tarbert, Co Kerry and Great Island, Co Wexford power plants to Spanish energy giant Ndessa.

Unite general secretary Brendan Ogle pointed out yesterday that the ESB had operating profits of €523 million last year.

"What we are looking for is a cost of living increase, plus a very modest amount over and above that," he said.

Mr Ogle added that the ESB's group of unions supported the principle of giving priority to low-paid workers in the national pay talks, and that there is a case for pay restraint in companies in financial difficulties.

"But that is not the case in the ESB," he said.

"In a company that made €500 million profits last year, our members are not going to accept a pay freeze or increases below the cost of living."

The group of unions is set to begin talking in earnest with Ndessa next week to agree terms and conditions for ESB workers at Great Island and Tarbert who transfer to the new owners.

The ESB is due to hand over the plants in November. Workers have the option of being redeployed within the ESB or transferring to the new owner's employment.

Mr Ogle said that the unions welcomed the fact that Ndessa would be providing well-paid industrial jobs in both regions.