Bin collections in the Dublin City Council area are to be disrupted next week due to industrial action in support of workers engaged in a union-recognition dispute.
SIPTU members of the council's cleansing section have voted for a half-day work stoppage on Thursday, November 6th, in support of workers in Oxigen Environmental who are in dispute over employment rights.
Mr Paul Smyth, SIPTU's local authority branch secretary, said notice of the action was served yesterday against the council, which employs Oxigen to collect recyclable waste from households.
The company is refusing to negotiate with the union over pay and conditions, claiming SIPTU represents only 30 workers out of a staff of 300.
A spokesman for Oxigen said it had no comment to make over the industrial action. He claimed, however, it had good conditions for workers, paying bonuses and operating sick-pay and pension schemes.
A spokesman for the council described the industrial action as "bizarre", given that the grievances related to a private company outside of its control.
Meanwhile, fresh pickets by anti-bin tax campaigners were mounted yesterday against council depots, delaying collections by up to four hours. The disruption at Collins Avenue, Rathmines and Davitt Road, as well as Ballymount in the South Dublin County Council area, came after a lull in protests of almost a week.
The Minister of State for Environment, Mr Noel Ahern, urged protesters to lift the threat of blockades over Hallowe'en, to allow parks department crews to clear public parks and green areas of illegal bonfires.
"The return of blockades is in clear defiance of public opinion and in defiance of the courts," he said.
