Move follows company breach of collective agreement

Management must act to avoid escalation

Unite, which represents workers throughout the energy sector, said today (Wednesday) that members in Gas Networks Ireland (GNI) have voted overwhelmingly to take industrial action after the company breached collectively agreed procedures in relation to a member.

Earlier this month, GNI attempted to convert a Unite member’s legitimate grievance into a disciplinary action while denying their right to be represented during the process, as required under long-standing collectively-agreed procedures.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said:

“Unite will not tolerate any employer attempting to bypass collective agreements. Our members are fighting to defend the rights of all workers at Gas Networks Ireland, and they have Unite’s full support.”

In a bid to avert industrial action, Unite met with management last Friday and again yesterday (Tuesday) but they refused to accede to the union’s demands.

Regional coordinating officer Tom Fitzgerald said:

“If management wants to avoid an escalation of this dispute and possible disruption of services to the public, they need to engage meaningfully with Unite, reinstate our member with a guarantee of no penalisation, and provide assurances that the company will adhere to our collective agreement going forward.”