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 Staff at the ESB have overwhelmingly voted in favour of industrial action, in their row over a €1.6 billion deficit in the company pension scheme.
Workers are opposing the company’s decision to pay a dividend of €78m to the State during the summer and a special dividend of €400m to the Exchequer, following the sale of certain assets, while this €1.6 billion deficit remains outstanding.
In total 87.5% of those balloted backed industrial action, with 12.5% opposed, from a turnout of 81%. In the Unite union, the vote in favour of strike action was as high as 89%. Four employees have already taken legal action against the company over this issue.
While unions have been invited to talks, same have not yet responded and no decision has been made as yet to serve notice of future industrial action.
While the ESB acknowledged the potentially serious impact on their customers, certainly hard struggling businesses will have little or no tolerance for any disruption to their electricity service, coming up to the Christmas season.
Irish Consumers pay on average €0.22518 per kWh for electricity, the 6th highest cost in Europe while the United Kingdom pay just €0.17078, France €0.14466, Greece €0.14073 and Poland €0.14618 only per kWh.
 Cash Automated Teller Machine (ATM) users are being warned once again about a new skimming device being used by a gang of organised criminals.
Reports indicate that the gang, to date over the past two months, has targeted cash machines in Donegal, Galway, Limerick, Dublin and Cork, while Co Tipperary is not as yet known to have been targeted.
However Tipperary and Thurles students and employees residing in Dublin have been targeted by these skimming devices while attempting to access their accounts.
In the case of one Thurles individual her account was skimmed in Dublin and within one hour was used to attempt the purchase of three iPods in New York City. Happily the transaction was quickly identified by her Thurles Ulster Bank branch, who immediately contacted her, thus halting the criminal transaction. Apparently unlike Ireland, card users in New York are not asked for PIN numbers when using cards to transact cash, thus making it easy for these organised criminal gangs to operate.
It is understood that these hi-tech card readers have also been wired to some in-store ATMs, so do beware, and be again reminded to always cover your PIN number when using any Automated Teller Machine.
An Announcement and a Little Thurles Humour from Thurles Born Mark Fielding, CEO at ISME;
 (Click on poster image for larger resolution.)
With a footfall of over 400 members, the ISME Annual Conference is the place to be on Friday 8th November next in the RDS Concert Hall, Dublin 4, when Matt Cooper will chair what promises to be the Business Conference of the Year.
AGENDA:
John Fanning, Lecturer in Branding and Marketing Communications in the Smurfit Business School will give us his insight into BRANDING; “Size doesn’t Matter.”
Dr. Gints Apals, Ambassador of the Republic of Latvia for Ireland asks the question; “How will Ireland fare, Post Troika?” He will give REAL examples of what is in store for Ireland.
Tom Healy, Director of the Nevin Institute.,
Prof. John McHale, Chair of the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council.
Conall Ó Móráin, Presenter & Columnist, to discuss and debate the future for Ireland Post Troika and how it will affect SMEs.
Fintan O’Toole, a strong critic of political corruption in Ireland, brings a sharp focus to; “The Rise, Fall and Aftermath of the Irish Celtic Tiger.”
Four leading owner/managers will give their “take,” on; “Survival and Revival- The Irish Way.”
All in one day, under one roof along with 400 of your peers and 50 exhibitors.
BOOK NOW: http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07e7xesyjd2a7b15d0&llr=nirmdb44
Any Questions ? Please contact the ISME Team, Tel: 01 – 6622755 or Email: info@isme.ie or why not visit the Website: www.isme.ie
If you are not in attendance here – You are not really serious about your business!
 Take note “Home Owners,” those of you who may wish to pay their property tax (latter introduced by Fine Gael Minister Phil Hogan) in instalments next year, you are now being informed that you must confirm your method of payment within the coming weeks ahead.
The Revenue Commissioners, burdened with this collection, have confirmed that letters are being sent to known property owners to establish the number of people who want to pay the tax in 2014.
Anyone who decides to opt for Phased Payments next year will have to confirm their preferred method of payment by November 27th provided they are doing so via their computer on-line.
Of course, for those not computer literate and who may wish to communicate by paper correspondence, these persons will have less time to inform Revenue, their deadline is in just over two weeks time, on the 7th of November.
 Severance payments made to our politicians are now to be abolished, under a Bill which was published by the Public Expenditure Minister Mr Brendan Howlin at lunchtime today.
On a day when more than ten thousand senior citizens, known as “The Grey Brigade” and a small number of younger demonstrators have held a rally outside Leinster House in Dublin protesting against cuts to Medical Cards, Prescription Fees and Job Seekers Allowance, this decision by the present Government, now makes good the promise to end the “golden handshake” payments to retiring Ministers.
Introduced in 1992, under this scheme, TDs departing senior Ministerial Office received a once off payment of nearly €90,000 over a period of two years, while Ministers of State received a somewhat smaller payment.
The reason behind such payments was to help cushion the reduction in salary between being a Minister and ordinary TD. This payment was treated separate and cast no reflection on future individual pensions for these Ministers and members of the Oireachtas.
This published Bill will also make adjustments to the Party Leaders allowances, paid to political parties. Parties will now have to report to the public ethics watchdog, SIPO, telling them how their funding is spent.
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