Workers at ESB power stations will meet today to consider industrial action in the continuing dispute over the position of the company's deputy chairman, Mr Joe LaCumbre.
The meeting of up to 250 members of Mr LaCumbre's union, the TEEU, takes place against the background of an escalating internal dispute within the ESB group of unions. That dispute threatens to jeopardise attempts to secure a new partnership deal at the company.
Today's meeting of power station workers follows a decision last week by about 1,000 electricians and ancillary staff to take "whatever action is necessary" to support Mr LaCumbre.
He claims he was in effect dismissed from his position following a row with the chairman, Mr Tadgh O'Donoghue, over the company's €511 million pension deficit.
The company's board voted recently that in the absence of Mr O'Donoghue, another director, Mr Eoin Fahy, should chair meetings. Union sources confirmed after last week's meeting of electricians that industrial action was likely to involve rolling strikes at selected locations.
The action would start immediately after the next ESB board meeting on February 22nd unless Mr LaCumbre's situation had been resolved, they said.
TEEU power station staff were expected to take a similar stance at today's meeting, although they may consult colleagues in other unions before finalising a decision.
Should either group of workers strike, power cuts would be inevitable.
Today's meeting is also expected to consider the wider industrial relations issues at the ESB, which are being overshadowed by the row within the group of unions. Two of the biggest unions, the TEEU and the ATGWU, say they are contemplating their continued involvement in the group.
The row escalated in recent days after the group secretary, Mr Paddy Reilly, responded with legal letters to an attempt by the TEEU to have him and other officers removed from their positions.
The TEEU, which claimed the officers had attended a meeting with ESB management without prior consultation, has withdrawn its complaint against them, but says it will consult members about the union's future involvement in the group.
The ATGWU's general purposes committee meets today to consider the same issue. Mr Reilly declined to comment last night.
