Some administrative and clerical staff at the European Commission are taking industrial action today in pursuit of a pay and union representation claim. It is expected that most of the office's services to the public will not be affected.
A SIPTU branch secretary, Mr Brian Fitzgerald, said staff were seeking parity with other commission employees in Dublin who, they say, are paid higher rates for identical work.
However, a spokesman for the commission said local employees' rates were set everywhere in the EU on the basis of local pay rates for similar work. Staff recruited in Brussels have rates negotiated centrally and are liable to be transferred between the commission's offices.