Jan 19th, 2009

ICMSA Deputy President rages as ESB workers receive 3.6% pay rise despite highest electricity prices in Europe

The Deputy President of ICMSA and Chairman of its Dairy Committee, John O’Leary, has described as “astonishing to the point of disbelief” the decision by the board of ESB to go ahead and award its workforce the 3.6 per cent pay rise set out in Phase One of the most recent National Pay Agreement. Mr O’Leary said that while farmers were being told to brace themselves against unspecified cuts in a range of farm schemes across-the-board and with REPS 4 payments now over four months in arrears, the very idea that the most cosseted public servants in the best paid public service in the EU were now going to award themselves a pay rise – without so much as a squeak of protest from the Government – was so unreal and absurd that people would be tempted to treat it as a joke.

“All we need to know about the Government’s priorities is contained within this news. A senior politician last Thursday estimated the average salary of an employee of the ESB at €90,000 per annum – and that’s before this latest pay rise. The Government does not apparently object to this pay rise even though we pay the dearest electricity prices in Europe. As of mid-November, Ireland had the highest electricity prices in Europe, an example that will interest farmers would be to compare our situation here at that time where we paid €16.90 per kWh of electricity compared to €14.11 in the UK or €9.14 in France or €12.79 in Germany. Just look at the Netherlands where they pay an even €13.00 per kWh and ask yourself why we have to pay €3.90 more for the same unit? This tells us all we need to know about who the Government expects to shoulder all the burden involved in this recession”, raged Mr O’Leary.

“On the other hand, and by way of complete and disgraceful contrast, farmers who have signed contracts with the same Government – and who earn in many cases considerably less than the industrial average – are now being told that the axe is to be swung at their entitlements. If the Government still doesn’t understand why ordinary people have lost faith in it then they should take the time to think about this contrast. This is the stuff of Alice in Wonderland. It’s astonishing to the point of disbelief. Is there anyone around the cabinet table with an ounce of courage and fairness? The Government has an obligation to reverse this decision and direct the board of ESB to cut electricity prices down to the European average with immediate effect. It’s all very well for ministers to talk about restoring competitiveness, it’s time for them to step up to the mark and do something about it”, said Mr O’Leary.

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