TEEU executive unanimously agrees to suspend industrial action in electrical contracting dispute July 12th, 2009. The executive of the Technical Engineering and Electrical Union has unanimously decided to accept the Labour Court Recommendation aimed at resolving the union’s dispute with employers over the implementation of the Registered Employment Agreement and outstanding pay increases. TEEU General Secretary Designate, Eamon Devoy, said after the meeting that, “We also decided to suspend our week long strike to await the response of the employer organisations. “However we reserve the right to reactivate our industrial action and pursue our All-Out Picket application to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions vigorously if required.” He added that the executive will meet again next Thursday to review the situation. The Labour Court Recommendation provides for all parties to adhere to the REA, pay increases of 2.5 per cent from September 1st and a further 2.4 per cent from January 1st, 2010, as well as a review of the REA within four months. Chronology of Dispute MONDAY The Strike commenced on Monday 6th July 2009 and it was a resounding success. The media announced hundreds of sites closed and 10,500 electricians out on strike. By 7pm Tom Parlon, Director General, CIF conceded that the strike had met its objective and that 5,000 electricians employed by ECA Companies were out on strike and every major construction site in the country was closed. TUESDAY An emergency debate was held in the Dail Eireann at the end of which the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mary Coughlan, announced her intention, under appropriate legislation, to instruct the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) to intervene in the dispute. The employers and TEEU were called to bilateral talks scheduled for the following morning. WEDNESDAY 14 hours of talks saw no progress with the employers continuing to pursue a 10 per cent pay cut and diminished conditions of employment of the Electricians and Apprentices. NECI protested on the steps of Tom Johnson House, where the the LRC and Labour Court are located. Solicitors’ letters from both NECI and the non-aligned contractors were served on Kieran Mulvey, CEO of the LRC, threatening legal proceedings to halt the process. THURSDAY A further 14 hours of discussions were frustrated by disagreement between ECA and the AECI on a potential solution. If there a pay rise was agreed it would be a voluntary collective agreement not registered with the Labour Court as a variation to the REA, at least in the short term. FRIDAY All the non-pay issues were agreed at the LRC, that is a full commitment to the REA by all the parties, a review of the agreement, a joint approach to compliance and related matters, an investigation into the difficulties surrounding the resolution of the dispute and a ‘no victimisation’ clause. The pay issue was not agreed and was jointly referred by all the parties to the Labour Court. SATURDAY The Labour Court heard the case on 11th July 2009 and subsequently issued a recommendation. LABOUR COURT RECOMMENDATION – KEY POINTS The President, General Secretary and the General Secretary Designate are strongly recommending the following to the EMC: a)That the union accepts the Labour Court Recommendation, which also encompasses the LRC Settlement Proposals. b)That the dispute be deferred in good faith, pickets lifted and the members return to work pending confirmation of the employers accepting of the Labour Court Recommendation. c)That the matter be reviewed at our scheduled meeting on Thursday, July 16th, 2009. d)Should either or both of the employers bodies refuse to accept the Labour Court Recommendation then the dispute will be reactivated, subsequent to the builders holidays, and the ICTU All-Out Picket will be vigorously pursued. SUNDAY TEEU Executive agrees to accept Labour Court Recommendation and suspend action while the union awaits responses from the employer bodies.