THE first in a series of official one day stoppages involving 350 catering and support staff at University College Hospital, Galway, is set to take place next week.
The industrial action, announced by SIPTU, follows a dispute about the privatisation of part of the eat ring services at the hospital and is likely to severely affect other services.
In an effort to avoid the strike, management has sought a hearing through, the Labour Relations Commission, which is due to take place tomorrow in Dublin.
A SIPTU shop steward, Mr Gerry Corbett, said their action followed a management move to introduce arbitrarily a measure which would undermine their jobs. They had not received a satisfactory response to a proposal that union members be allowed to carry out the catering brief for a year when a review would be held.
The union intends to escalate the dispute throughout the summer by increasing the stoppages to two days a week.
A management representative was not available for comment.