September's three-day ATGWU network technicians' strike at the ESB is likely to be a sign of increased industrial volatility at the company as the countdown to privatisation advances.

The first ESB strike in 14 years took place when the ATGWU, representing 1200 network technicians, placed pickets in protest at the privatisation of work outsourced to private contractors.

More than 1700 outside technicians now work for the company and although ESB's agreement with the private operators ran out 18 months ago, the company was clearly planning to increase their role.

Scandalously, instead of supporting the ATGWU's action against the use of private contractors, Siptu and TEEU officials called on their network technician members to pass pickets! Despite this scandalous action, the first day of the strike saw cross-union support for pickets at rank-and-file level. ATGWU power station workers issued a statement that they would show a "positive approach" if asked for solidarity action.

TEEU officials went all-out on day two to get their members across the picket lines. There were still whole areas of the country where they failed to do so.

However, with many pickets being passed and a vicious media offensive, the strike began to weaken. To a significant degree this was due to the strike not being prepared properly. ATGWU Regional Secretary Brendan Ogle had shown a willingness to fight but had not prepared the ground sufficiently with a full discussion among the members about the issues, strategy and tactics. When the ICTU leadership stepped in and applied further pressure, the strike was called off in return for negotiations on the disputed issues.

ESB linesman, picket organiser and Socialist Party member Dave Keating sums up: "Although the strike should have been better prepared, it can act as an important warning shot to the ESB. The ATGWU meeting in Cork which was attended by both technicians and power workers is unprecedented and significant. There will be other big hurdles on the road to privatisation including continuing price rises for consumers and a 2% rise in workers' pension contributions in return for an end to fixed pensions and pensions being dependent on the fluctuations of the market.

This strike could be the first of many battles against outsourcing and a worsening of conditions as they attempt to move us down the road that the Irish Ferries workers have been forced to go down."

The entrance lobby of the TEEU head office in Dublin was occupied and picketed from the morning of Monday 19 September until the following Thursday by apprentice electricians from the ESB who were angry that the union would not fight for their jobs in the company.

Their anger was heightened by the continued large-scale employment of outside contractors by the company while they were told that there was no work for them.

57 apprentices, out of 100 or so, were told that they were to be let go by the company. The majority, around 70, of these apprentices were formerly general workers and were classified as "temporary day" workers. Despite this classification, many of these apprentices had worked for three, four or even five years for the Board before they started to serve their time.

One aspect of the "Pact" agreement allowed for the employment of "temporary day" workers as apprentices. Many of these workers were in their late twenties or early thirties with families and mortgages. While acknowledging that no specific promises of permanent jobs was made, they feel they were led to believe that, with the economy growing, they would have jobs when they finished.

The occupiers feared the possibility that the union might have them evicted or even arrested. They withdrew from the lobby to picket the outside of the office on Wednesday evening. In the meantime they received publicity on primetime TV news shows.

Mixed signals seemed to emanate from meetings with union officials on Wednesday but on Thursday they received assurances from TEEU officials that they would not be laid off by the company while talks on a new "Pact" agreement were taking place and that their case would be taken to the Rights Commissioner.

These assurances were accepted by the apprentices as sufficiently strong for them to withdraw their protests. If these jobs are to be saved, pressure must be kept on both the company and the union officials.

In the last few issues of the Socialist we reported on the courageous struggle of the Tullybeg workers who occupied the nursing home where they worked.

After 78 days they finally received their outstanding wages holiday pay and statutory redundancy.

Spokeswoman Bridie Delaney told the Socialist: "We're relieved it's over but it's not a victory as such, we fought for and received nothing more than our due money. It was a real eye opener, at my age I thought I knew what there is to know, but I learned that workers have very little protection, bosses can do what they want. I've also learned that if you don't stick together, you have nothing. If we had pursued individual cases I believe we would have got nothing".

The Executive Committee of the CPSU has voted 15-1 against entering the next round of national wage agreement talks.

The Executive rejected general secretary Blair Horan's recommendation to enter talks. Instead the Committee listened to the activists and members who are saying clearly that partnership is not working.

There is anger amongst the members that the union is being ignored and management are doing as they please on issues like mobile phone masts, staffing levels and negotiating rights. Despite benchmarking pay rises, members' take home pay is not keeping pace with the rising cost of living.

A major bone of contention is the non-payment of the national wage agreement increases to the CPSU members in An Post.

The CPSU Executive Committee should campaign for other unions to also refuse to enter talks and build a united campaign of unions to break ICTU from social partnership.

Sligo strike vote against mast

The CPSU union branch in Sligo has voted for strike action if a mobile phone mast is erected on their workplace building.

The building also has a creche and members are extremely angry that their health and safety concerns are being ignored.

The government has done a deal with a major phone company worth hundreds of millions to use public buildings for phone masts. The trade unions were ignored and staff kept in the dark. Since coming to light the call for action on the issue has come from the members but has been ignored by the trade union officials.

The stand by civil servants in Sligo should be echoed and copied by other public workers whose health is similarly being compromised by the government in exchange for cash.