SIPTU condemns refusal of Edenderry Power Ltd to attend Labour Court

SIPTU has condemned the refusal of the management of Edenderry Power Ltd to refer a long running dispute at the the Bord na Móna power plant in Edenderry, Co. Offaly, to the Labour Court. SIPTU Organiser, John Regan, said: “SIPTU members reacted with anger at a general meeting on Monday (16th November) evening to the refusal of management to engage on the issues in dispute at the Labour Court. This refusal has been accompanied by threats from management to lay off workers and shut down the operation of the power plant. “What has particularly angered our members is that this approach by management follows six years in which workers at the plant have fully embraced ongoing change in its operation without any monetary reward”. He added: “This dispute has been ongoing since February 2014. It has been the subject of three conciliation conferences at the Workplace Relations Commission. At the latest of these, held on 30th October, a proposal emerged that the issues in dispute be referred to the Labour Court. The management of Edenderry Power Ltd has blocked this move. “The issues that were to be referred to the Labour Court include an outstanding 3.5% pay increase and the restoration of an annual pay review.  Also, the fact that management had failed to honour its obligations under transfer of undertakings legislation since Bord na Móna acquired the power station in 2009. This should have protected the workers’ terms and conditions of employment which should include collective bargaining rights as enjoyed by workers in the rest of the Bord na Móna Group.”