In reality I would think that neither the electricians, the TEEU nor any of the unions who have waded in behind them actually expect to get a pay rise in the current environment. How could they ? With so many front line electricians out of work (it's probably the trade hit most hard on the domestic side of things according to figures from Onlinetradesmen.com), many will be thankful that they have a job at all. Indeed one electrical contractor we spoke to last week indicated that he is currently charging prices not seen since 1992 - €35 per double socket in domestic jobs. Phew - yet he is paying his employees somewhere around the €22 per hour mark. It just doesn't add up, not enough sockets!
But that's not the point. As with most confrontations of this nature, it comes down to "principles". The fact that the electricians were officially awarded pay increases of 11% in 2008 primed the debate, arming electricians with "principles". The fact that these awards were subsequently ignored by their employers sparked the confrontation. However, claims that the employers actually increased their selling prices to counteract an increase in wages that was never going to be paid, added a big glug of fuel to the fire. Now burning intensely, the final explosion came when the employers countered with claims that, due to the decline of the construction sector, the electricians should actually get a 10% reduction in their salaries.
Take the rate of pay, working conditions etc. out of the argument for a second. Who the hell was advising the employers on this matter ? In the cold light of day, how can you treat a highly skilled and represented workforce in this way and expect anything different than industrial action ? The phrase 'Red Rag to a Bull' comes into mind...
So I guess we wait and see what the outcome is over the following weeks and days. In the meantime there will be widespread disruption, accusations and 10,500 skilled electricians downing tools in protest on a matter of principle. A dangerous thing, principles.