TEEU welcomes support of ICTU and says Parlon shows nothing but contempt for workers by his remarks July 7th, 2009. The Technical Engineering and Electrical Union has welcomed the strong statement of support from Patricia McKeown, President of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, today. In her speech to Congress in Tralee Ms McKeown said, “I pledge the full support of this conference to the TEEU and its members, who are now exercising their fundamental human right to strike, having exhausted all other legitimate means. I dismiss with contempt the claims that this strike is damaging the economy – others have done that job to stunning effect”. “Whatever disingenuous headlines the press may run with about an 11 per cent pay rise, we know that they are out on strike because the employers have walked off with the money owed to them in pay and pensions. We wish them well and we will be with them to the end.” Welcoming her comments TEEU General Secretary Designate Eamon Devoy said, “We very much appreciate her support and that of fellow trade unionists at the ICTU conference in Tralee. Hopefully it will help make the chief executive of the Construction Industry Federation Tom Parlon realise that his attempts to isolate us by gratuitous insults are counterproductive and simply show he has nothing but contempt for the people employed by his members. “The Registered Employment Agreement has worked well for decades and ensured the electrical contracting sector has been relatively trouble free in industrial relations terms. Perhaps the best service Mr Parlon and his cheer leaders in NECI could do is withdraw to allow the professional negotiators employed by the ECA, AECI and CIF to engage with us. All Mr Parlon has added to the situation is confusion, misinformation and heightened tension.” The TEEU will be responding to the ex parte injunctions granted to Diageo and Cadbury’s after consulting with its legal team . Meanwhile it will be seeking an all-out application from the ICTU later today.