The minority employer bodies - that have an input into the Electrical Registered Employment Agreement (REA) - have followed the lead of the National Electrical Contractors Ireland (NECI) and called for a 10% pay cut.

Last November Ireland's largest electrical trade association - with excess of 600 members - called for a 10% reduction in pay.

The association said the cut was necessary to ensure the survival of small contractors and sustain jobs in the future.

Earlier this week, at a Labour Court Hearing, it was revealed the 50 member-strong ECA and the AECI, which has 280 members, had met with the TEEU and also called for a 10% pay cut.

Last May both these employers associations were in favour of a 5% pay increase.

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NECI's objection to what it described as an "unsustainable pay increase" was the starting point for the current challenge to the REA.

The Labour Court has sat for 10 days and heard oral evidence from NECI members as to why the agreement is undesirable.

Members claim substantial changes have occurred in the industry since the REA was first registered in 1990.

On the opening day of the hearing both the ECA and AECI indicated their current position was not to support the 5% increase.

All parties who had input into the May 2008 REA agreement originally supported the 5% increase, which could have been made legally binding, if NECI had not taken action.

A spokesman for the group said: "Were it not for the then fledgling NECI swift actions in the Labour Court, many electrical contractors would now be out of business thereby causing mass job losses for Irelands Electricians.

"NECI is of the opinion that this Electrical Registered Employment agreement should be cancelled and a new one put in place that properly represents all employers and employees working in the sector."

The current hearing in the Labour Court has the ability to cancel the agreement, but failing this outcome NECI says it will proceed with its challenge on behalf of the group's 600 members.

See: NECI Calls For 10% Pay Cut

(PR/JM)