This article is from page 1 of the 2006-10-03 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 1 JPG
A CONSULTANT’S report has revealed that last year’s average staff cost at the Moneypoint power station in west Clare was €124,419.
The report, carried out by Deloitte on the Irish electricity sector, found that staff costs at ESB Power Generation facilities were high, compared to those in other jurisdictions.
However, Moneypoint ESB worker director candidate, John Coleman, strongly disputed the figures, stating that the average salary at Moneypoint was “nowhere near the figure quoted in the report”.
The Deloitte report concluded that ESB Power Generation staff costs were 20 to 30 per cent higher than the benchmark stations in the UK. A significant level of overtime was paid and this was not the practice for the vast majority of UK facilities.
This was disputed by Mr Coleman who said that payroll costs at Moneypoint had gone down dramatically.
“Workers at Moneypoint would not be on even half the amount quoted in the report. They no longer work overtime and General Services day workers receive around €60,000. We are well paid. It is a marvellous job, but the figures in the report are way out.”
Two years ago, Moneypoint work ers agreed to paycuts of up to 30 per cent and an end to overtime. When the deal was struck, there were 320 employed at the plant and the target was to reduce numbers by 80 through voluntary redundancy and natural wastage.
Local county councillor, Tom Prendeville (FF), said average staff costs would include management salaries, shift allowances and unsocial hours.
“The wages at Moneypoint have been agreed between management and unions and it is the price management are willing to pay for industrial peace. If Moneypoint was to close in the morning, west Clare would become an economic wasteland,” he said.