ESB workers have been urged again not to inflict power cuts on the public as they threaten to strike in a row over pensions.
Workers have warned they are prepared to down tools on December 16 amid their claims that management at the semi-state body breached a 2010 agreement to tackle a n 1.6 billion deficit in its pension scheme. Management is to meet union representatives in a bid to resolve the row but Unite has already announced plans to serve strike notice on Friday. Government ministers yesterday called on workers not to participate in action. Describing threatened power cuts as a "retrograde step", agriculture minister Simon Coveney said they were the "last thing the Irish economy needs right now."
Transport minister Leo Varadkar insisted the ESB pension fund was not in trouble and described the strike threat as "unnecessary".
Energy minister Pat Rabbitte also said there was no risk to the pension scheme and that employees retiring up to 2018 would receive their "full entitlements".
Union chief Brendan Ogle warned that consumers who switched to another energy supplier could still be hit by power cuts because the company was responsible for the state's electricity system.
He was speaking after Retail Excellence Ireland said it would assist members to change suppliers if the strike went ahead.
REI chief David Fitzsimons also called on the government to introduce legislation banning industrial action by workers in essential services like ESB.