The Dublin docks dispute escalated yesterday when over 70 casual dockers refused to work alongside recruits. Three ships carrying 2,000 new cars were diverted to Belfast, Cork and Bristol.
Ocean Manpower Ltd, which supplies casual labour to the main stevedoring companies in the port, has criticised the men's action as unofficial and in breach of existing agreements.
It says that new recruits are needed because port traffic has increased from 7.5 million tonnes in 1992 to 21 million this year, while the number of dockers has fallen from almost 100 to around 70, not all of whom are always available for work.
However, the chairman of the Marine Port division of SIPTU, Mr Paddy Nevin, said the dockers had voted by 70 to three for a strike.
He said the present agreement dated back to 1992.