Three hundred customers could not have their bins collected over the weekend as bin lorries were being blockaded by Greyhound waste-collection workers involved in a dispute with their employer over pay, the High Court in Dublin has been told.
Louis McEntagart, for Greyhound, told the court yesterday that lorries were prevented from entering and leaving Greyhound Recycling’s depot in Clondalkin, Dublin, last Friday for more than two hours. Mr McEntagart said since Friday the company had been unable to collect the waste of 300 customers at Cromcastle, Coolock, Dublin.
He told Ms Justice Mary Irvine that the company was looking, on an ex-parte basis, for leave to apply for an interlocutory injunction to restrain the workers and Siptu, the union representing them, from blockading the waste-collection services.
In an affidavit, Michael Buckley, the chief executive of Greyhound Recycling and Recovery, claimed Garda resources had needed to be stretched to facilitate free passage for the lorries.
Mr Buckley said that last Friday lorries had been blockaded during their waste-collection duties throughout Dublin. Some of the blockades had been recorded by the protesters and had been available on You Tube.
He claimed the blockades had been ongoing since mid-July, despite undertakings given last month to the High Court by some Greyhound workers represented in court and Siptu to conduct picketing peacefully.
Mr Buckley said in his affidavit that the manner in which the protests were being conducted was dangerous and the company was concerned that some person may suffer serious injury. He said that during one blockade, a young child was lifted and placed by a protester in front of a heavy vehicle which was trying to leave the company’s depot.
Mr Buckley said that Joan Collins TD and councillor Tina MacVeigh, both of People Before Profit, had been involved in some of the blockades.
Ms Justice Irvine granted Greyhound leave to apply for an interim interlocutory injunction to be heard tomorrow in which the company will seek further injunctions. She also granted the company permission to serve short notice on 17 individuals of its application.