SIPTU is to ballot 30,000 members in the health boards and local authorities for strike action over a £22 a week increase. The claim is outside the increases due under national pay agreements and could pose the most serious challenge to public sector pay policy since the nurses' dispute.
SIPTU's vice-president, Mr Des Geraghty, announced the decision to ballot members yesterday. Already 4,000 craftworkers are being balloted by their unions on the same issue.
Talks to resolve the dispute have been suspended while the ballots take place. The result of the craftworkers' ballot will be known on November 7th and is expected to be overwhelmingly for industrial action. If a strike does take place, the craft unions have said they will provide no emergency cover.
Since 1979, pay for craftworkers in both health boards and local authorities has been set by an "analogue" - a formula based on a "basket" of rates in 18 private and public sector employments. SIPTU members are entitled to 80 per cent of whatever the analogue provides for craftworkers.
The craftworkers say they are entitled to the increase over and above the main pay provisions of Partnership 2000. This would be at least four times the 2 per cent limit provided for in the local bargaining clause of the national agreement.
Mr Geraghty warned employers yesterday that SIPTU would fully support the craftworkers' claim to have the analogue agreement honoured. Likewise, SIPTU would be insisting on its members' right to 80 per cent of the increase conceded to craftworkers.