More than 20O non-nursing staff at St Ita's psychiatric hospital in Portrane, Co Dublin, held a one-day strike yesterday over working conditions. SIPTU branch secretary Mr Raymond O'Reilly described conditions as "appalling".
Canteen staff had to work out of a Portakabin, there were cockroaches, mice and rats on the premises, and skips were "piled high with incontinence pads", according to Mr O'Reilly.
The action will be escalated to two days next week if the Northern Area Health Board does not agree to an industrial relations audit, he said.
During the stoppage SIPTU members provided emergency cover, including meals for the 1,500 patients and staff.
A spokeswoman for the health board said protracted negotiations had been held with SIPTU on Wednesday to avert the strike. Progress had been made on a number of issues. Management appealed again to SIPTU yesterday to cancel the strike.
Mr O'Reilly said progress had been made on ensuring members had basic entitlements such as the right to take annual leave. However, there were so many problems that an industrial relations audit was essential.
In response to Mr O'Reilly's claims, a spokeswoman for the health board said the temporary kitchen facilities were "to a high standard".
She accepted that there were "rodent sightings" from time to time, but said no complaints of infestation had been reported to management.