Scaffolders on most building sites in Dublin are expected to walk off their jobs on Monday morning to attend a mass meeting in Liberty Hall on pay and safety conditions.
The meeting is being held by a new organisation, the Dublin Scaffolders Society, which has warned that the meeting could mark the beginning of a city-wide strike.
It is understood the society has withdrawn a threat to refuse to erect stands for the St Patrick's Day parade, on the basis that it would alienate public support. The workers are seeking increases of between £3 and £12 a hour, which would effectively increase their weekly pay by between 50 per cent and 300 per cent a week. They also want better training and safety facilities.
SIPTU's construction branch secretary, Mr Eric Fleming, has tried to mediate between the scaffolders and the Construction Industry Federation. After the founding meeting of the scaffolders' society on March 3rd, which set next Monday as a deadline for a settlement, he wrote to the CIF requesting a meeting.