NIE Networks union vows it will fight 20% pay cuts for power workers

A trade union has vowed to use “every means necessary” to resist an Irish government-owned company from slashing the wages of workers key to keeping the lights on in Northern Ireland.
By Sam McBride
Published 27th Apr 2020, 07:15 BST
Updated 27th Apr 2020, 11:54 BST
NIE Networks is now owned by the Irish governmentNIE Networks is now owned by the Irish government
NIE Networks is now owned by the Irish government

NIE Networks, which maintains the electricity grid, confirmed that it was “considering a number of measures to mitigate against the impact of Covid-19 on our business” after a fall in demand for energy.

The most recent accounts of the company, which is owned by Irish state company ESB, show a pre-tax profit of £55 million.

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However, a source with knowledge of the situation expressed concern that staff in ESB were not facing the same cuts.

In a memo to staff last week which has been obtained by the News Letter, the Prospect trade union said that staff were “concerned and angry about information they have been given on potential management actions”.

It said that management had told some staff that they would be asked to take a 20% cut in hours and pay and a pay freeze.

Prospect advised its members to reject any such request and said that it would “resist this attempt to vary hours and pay by every means necessary”.

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It added: “We do not believe for one second that our members who are keeping the ventilators working, the power on in hospitals ... should be asked to bear the cost of a situation beyond their control”.

NIE Networks told the News Letter that it was “engaging closely with our recognised trade unions to work through the various options and at this stage no decisions have been finalised”.

When asked why ESB was asking staff in Northern Ireland to take a pay cut when that is not being done for staff doing the same roles in the Republic, NIE Networks said that it “operates as an independent organisation” and “it would not be appropriate for us to comment on the operations or decisions of ESB”.

It said that its priority was the safety and wellbeing of employees and customers and the security of the electricity supply.

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Related topics:Northern IrelandCovid-19