The body representing Irish electricians has pledged to continue its 'fight' to save electrical contractors businesses, electricians' jobs, and the sustainability of their industry.

National Electrical Contractors Ireland (NECI) has said its sector is under immense pressure, with businesses and employees' jobs hanging in the balance.

NECI said: "We cannot be judged for the sins of our forefathers, but we can and we will be judged for our actions or inactions to protect our industry and the jobs within our sector going into the future."

In recent months the body has conducted 19 information meetings across the country.

It says the feedback received from fellow contractors is 'frightening and appalling'.

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NECI said many electricians are suffering from cash flow problems, ranging from customers who cannot afford to pay, to developers unable to access finance from the banks.

The body has claimed subcontractors are providing labour on contracts but not getting paid by main contractors.

This problem is escalating at an 'alarming rate', forcing many contractors to let their electricians and apprentices go, according to the group.

NECI has called for a 5% wage increase, agreed by the other two trade associations.

However, the proposed draft pay increase under the national pay talks looks destined to fail with the CIF & the Small Firms Association expressing serious issues.

This proposed increase, which was to be over 21 months, is less than half what electrician representatives had agreed for the Electrical Contracting Industry, over a 12 month time scale.

The proposed increase in the electrical contracting industry is negotiated by the three parties to the National Joint Industrial Council (NJIC), the two employer representative bodies and the union, by means of the Analog system, which NECI has branded a 'dysfunctional and an unfair system'.

NECI has in excess of 600 members at present, and plans to published a 'startling' survey sampling more than 20% of the industry at its AGM in December.

(PR/JM)