Bord na Móna dispute to be referred

Unions and management at Bord na Móna have agreed to seek third party intervention in an attempt to resolve an ongoing pay dispute at the semi-state firm

Bord na Móna said yesterday it would seek a Labour Court recommendation on the dispute that led to a two-day work stoppage in the midlands last week.

In a statement issued this afternoon, the company said it had received written agreement from the group of unions, which represents some 1,500 workers at the firm, to seek third party involvement.

Pickets placed on Bord na Móna supply depots last week affected peat harvesting in Laois, Offaly, Westmeath, Kildare, Roscommon and Longford.

The action by members of Siptu, Unite and the TEEU is over a company pay offer that unions say does not live up to the terms agreed under the Towards 2016 transitional agreement.

Unions rejected a company offer to pay the 3.5 per cent in two phases, as well as a lump sum of €1,000 to each worker on the basis that the increases be reckonable for pension purposes.

The group of unions said today it is planning two 48-hour work stoppages for later this month but added it will suspend the action pending completion of any process involving a third party.

Oliver McDonagh, chairman of the Bord Na Móna group of unions said the company had “ignored” previous work stoppages and had left the workers with “no choice” but to announce the further work stoppages.

“The actions will involve the placing of pickets on all Bord na Móna premises.”

The first 48-hour work stoppage will begin on Wednesday, 25th July, at 12.01am and conclude at midnight on Thursday, 26th July. The second 48-hour stoppage will begin on Wednesday, 22nd August, at 12.0am and conclude at midnight on Thursday, 23rd August 2012.

Mr McDonagh said union members would no longer use their personal mobile phones “as a communication method for any form of Bord na Móna business” from Wednesday, 25th of July.

He added however that the group of unions was “fully prepared” to avail of the services of a third party regarding the dispute.

“If the dispute does enter a process that requires no further industrial action then the actions can be suspended until such time as the procedures are complete.”

“It is therefore of the utmost importance that if the company refers the dispute to a third party, they stress the urgency of the matter,” he said.