TEEU Hails 'Huge Support' For Electrician Strike

The Technical Engineering and Electrical Union (TEEU) has commended the support of other workers in Cork today, after the first day of pickets and strike action by the states electricians.

Electricians are seeking an 11% pay increase, which has been due for a number of years while employers are pressuring for a 10% pay cut.

A TEEU spokesman said today its members received "huge support" from other workers in Cork on the first day of the dispute to defend the Registered Employment Agreement.

"On most sites where we mounted pickets members of other unions refused to pass them and in some cases, such as the two ESB facilities in Aghada, the Whitegate refinery and the Eli Lilly plant, workers employed directly in the main plants joined the picket line to show their support," TEEU Regional Secretary Pat Guilfoyle said today.

Over 10,000 electricians - who are members of the Technical Engineering and Electrical Union - yesterday stopped or disrupted work at many sites around the country.

The union described the strike as 'a major success', saying they had had significant support from workers in other unions.

Secretary Pat Guilfoyle added: "We made sure there was no threat to power supplies at Aghada but there was no doubting the support we received from colleagues in SIPTU, Unite, BATU and other unions.

"Workers know that if the ECA and AECI succeed in driving wages and conditions down for our members they will be next."

Among the sites picketed were the Pfizer plant at Little island, the new Glaxo Smith Kline building in Ringaskiddy, the Douglas Shopping Centre, and Cork University Hospital site.

Referring to the pickets at hospital sites Pat Guilfoyle said: "We want to make it clear that our disputes on these sites is with electrical contractors in the ECA and AECI and that our members are not interfering in any way with services to the public."

(DW/BMcC)