A strike at the ESB that was expected to cause widespread power cuts next week has been averted after union officials representing the company's workers met this morning.
Around 2,300 workers were involved in the proposed industrial action by the ESB Officers' Association (ESBOA), but the union has now indicated its decision to defer the strike action due to begin on Monday.
The ESB unions will attend the Labour Court next week to discuss the terms of the talks, and to choose a person experienced in industrial relations to broker them.
Mr Tony Dunne, general secretary of the ESBOA , said the union had deferred strike action as the Labour Court would be capable of addressing all outstanding issues.
"We believe we can provide a mechanism which will lead off all of the outstanding issues on which negotiations broke down a short while ago," he said.
"All of the unions are involved."
Mr Dunne added that this is just the start of a lengthy process which will probably stretch into September.
"We are pleased this is a way of moving the thing forwards, no-one wants a dispute - we didn't. This will address all outstanding issues and we have taken it very seriously."
The outstanding issues are likely to include the ESB workers' request for a substantial equity stake in the company.
A plan to avert the action emerged last night after a series of meetings chaired by the National Implementation Body (NIB) involving unions, management and officials in the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources.
The NIB recommended that a new talks process be set in train to address an 18.5 per cent pay increase over the next three years.
All unions at the semi-State electricity company had voted for industrial action, but strike notice was only served by the ESBOA.
A spokeswoman for the ESB said the group's management welcomed the decision of the group of unions this afternoon to unanimously recommend proposals emanating from the National Implementation Body, to a special group meeting on July 12th.
Management also welcomed the decision of the ESBOA to defer their notice of industrial action.