Call for third-party talks in Shelbourne row

Unionised staff at the Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin are seeking third-party intervention in talks with management over a planned 18-month closure for renovations.

Kieron Connolly, hotel and catering branch secretary of Siptu, said its members would be requesting an immediate meeting with the Labour Relations Commission to try to resolve the dispute over redundancy payments.

Talks between management and union representatives concluded yesterday without agreement. A hotel spokeswoman said management held separate talks with non-unionised staff who were delighted with the "generous" redundancy package.

Under the company's plans, employees with over two years' service will be paid 5½ weeks' salary per year of service. Siptu is seeking for this to be raised to 6½ weeks.

The union is also looking for the removal of a 130-week payment cap which penalises anyone with over 23 years' service.

It is understood the company offered to part-compensate those affected by the cap. However, Siptu believed the company offer did not go far enough.

Some 227 employees are to be made redundant in the temporary closure earmarked for April 4th. The newly-renovated hotel is due to reopen in time for the Ryder Cup in September 2006.

Concierge and Siptu shop-steward David Johnston, who joined the hotel 31 years ago, said yesterday: "It's a sad occasion. It has been a very happy place to work. I've met a lot of famous people, and I've enjoyed almost ever minute of it.

"By and large, we've had a good working relationship with management. We've had a good partnership. What we'd like is for staff, some of whom have given their whole working life to the Shelbourne, to be leaving in a situation where they were happy rather than regretful."

Siptu claims to represent 100 of the hotel's employees, but hotel managers Marriott said the figure was closer to 70.