Employees at one of Intel's main production units in Leixlip are threatening a work stoppage at 11 a.m. today in protest at proposed changes in shift-working. A stoppage would be the first for the computer-chip manufacturer , which is non-union, in Ireland.
Intel's spokesman, Mr Liam Cahill, said full consultation was taking place with employees on the proposed changes in shift patterns and no decision had yet been taken.
The dispute has arisen because the company wants to start 24-hour-a-day production all year round, including Christmas Day and bank holidays. Now it operates a 24-hour, six-day week and closes at Christmas.
The company also proposes making Sunday working compulsory and wants employees to interchange day and night shifts.
Employees appear to be particularly annoyed at a proposal to cut slightly their unsocial hours premiums, even though the new work patterns might be more unsocial.
The plant threatened by the stoppage is ESSEN IR1, which employs about 1,600 people. It manufactures circuit boards for computers and has now been selected to produce the new Single Edged Cartridge (SED) for MMX (multi-media) computers. While this will not mean more jobs at the plant, it will give greater job security to employees. However, the expensive new equipment will require more intensive operation.
Mr Cahill said the changes were necessary, but the proposed roster which seemed to be causing problems was only one of four under consideration. He said 14 work teams, involving about 150 employees, had been set up to look at various options and come up with their own suggestions.
The only provisos were that the new work patterns must provide 24-hour, seven-day-a-week working, they must be within the law, must take account of people's preferred shift options and must be competitive. While the company was non-union, he said the level of consultation being provided was much greater than in more traditional, unionised plants.
Mr Cahill said a new team set up within Intel to examine increasing staff turnover was not directly related to the current problem. Most employees at the plant are production operators who say the changes will disrupt long-standing domestic arrangements. They are also concerned they will face small pay cuts.
At present, the shifts yield the pay equivalent of 102 hours a fortnight. Under the new roster, their pay would be reduced by half an hour a fortnight.
Mr Cahill accepts that the changes being sought will unsettle some people and create problems for them in terms of reorganising home life. However, he says, the selection of ESSEN IR1 for SED production is a very positive step for Intel's Irish operation.
At present, employees work a 12-hour shift from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., or 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., three days a week. Those on day-shift have a rolling roster which requires them to work different days each week.
There is the option of Sunday work at double time when overtime is available.