Scaffolders' dispute ends

An unofficial dispute involving almost 300 scaffolders in Cork and Limerick ended yesterday when striking workers voted by a …

An unofficial dispute involving almost 300 scaffolders in Cork and Limerick ended yesterday when striking workers voted by a slim majority to bring the six-week-old pay dispute to an end.

Workers from the Cork Committee of Registered Scaffolders and the Limerick and Clare District Scaffolders' Union together with 230 SIPTU members met at Connolly Hall in Cork. They accepted proposals put forward by the Construction Industry Federation for a 65p an hour increase, with the CIF in turn promising to undertake a review of wages in the coming months.

SIPTU spokesman Mr Martin Leahy said the CIF and the union recognised that the industry "is nothing short of dry wood and a spark will set it off" unless there was a positive review of the industry rates.