Enerveo workers on strike in Cavan over redundancy payments

Connect trade union union are taking strike action today against street lighting company Enerveo, which provides services to several local authorities.

An official picket is taking place today at the Cavan County Council offices.

The action is part of a dispute over redundancy payments, which Enerveo workers were told about in April.

Fourteen local authorities across the country were told in April that their contract with Enerveo, who are in partnership with SSE Airtricity, would finish.

"Enerveo recently announced that it was bringing to a conclusion its operations in Ireland and will not be seeking to retender for any of its current contracts," said Connect General Secretary Paddy Kavanagh.

"The company is refusing to provide its workforce with redundancy payments in line with those previously provided in the sector," he said.

Members of the Connect trade union voted in favour of strike action in a ballot held last month. Notice of industrial action was served on the company for Monday 8 July.

This was deferred pending talks aimed at reaching a solution to the dispute, however negotiations broke down yesterday.

The indefinite strike action involves pickets being placed at locations where the company carries out its work - including Enerveo depots, local authorities and some construction projects.