The National Electrical Contractors (NECI) Irelands largest trade association with in excess of 600 members have today called upon the party's of the National Joint Industrial Counsel and the labour court to abandon any further talks in relation to the existing proposed 5% pay increase for electricians that has been vehemently opposed by NECI and 90% of employers working in the industry since April.
After a emergency meeting in Tullamore last night on Wednesday 04/12/2008 to review the detrimental affect the current economic climate is having on our industry and in an attempt to secure and to maintain employment within our sector, NECI have decided we have no other alternative but to call for a 10% pay reduction on the craft basic rate for electricians to be applied right across all points of the electricians scale in the sector.
The Electrical Contracting Industry is bound by its own Registered Employment Agreement (REA). This agreement was introduced into the industry in 1990 by three party's the Technical Engineering & Electrical Union representing employees, Association of Electrical Contractors with a membership of 285 employers and UKs largest trade association with a branch in Ireland the Electrical Contractors Association with a approximate membership of 52 employers.
This agreement binds the 5257 Irish registered electrical contractors to all its terms in relation to pay and conditions for electricians / apprentice electricians working in that industry / sector. Any electrical contractor breaching this agreement or the terms within this agreement will see the contractor being brought before the labour court and face fines penalties and interest. Failure to pay these will result in the contractor being criminalized in the local district courts as this is the law.
This agreement prohibits electrical contractors from agreeing terms and conditions of employment, pay and conditions for electricians / apprentice with any of their employees.
We have seen increasing pressure being forced upon the industry from the economic downturn, the slowdown in the construction industry and increasing competition from northern and UK electrical contracting firms, which are not bound by any Registered Employment Agreement. The industry is under massive pressure with increasing numbers of electrical contracting firms being forced to breach the law (REA) to remain viable and competitive to secure and maintain employment for all employees within the sector.
NECI are strongly of the opinion there has been such substantial change in the circumstances of the electrical contracting industry since the registration of the agreement in 1990 that it is now undesirable to maintain its registration.
Signed NECI STEERING COMMITTE
- Denis Judge, [email protected] 0872540080
- Dave Butler, [email protected] 0862598840
- John Smith,
- Bart Whelan,
- Jerry O Keeffe,
- Brendan Hegarty,
- Sean Kearns,
- Paul Lynch,