SIPTU has given notice of industrial action after 11 of its members employed by the students' union of Dublin Institute of Technology were told yesterday that a rescue plan designed to save their jobs had fallen through.
The trading company that ran the students' union shops at several DIT campuses collapsed in September leaving the 11 employees out of work. Despite attempts by the institute and the students to save the business, no breakthrough has yet been made.
"This is devastating news to get on the eve of Christmas," said SIPTU's education branch secretary, Ms Chris Rowland.
"Our members have been out of work for the past 14 weeks, since DITSU Trading collapsed. They were given assurances by their employer that a rescue plan - financed by Dublin Institute of Technology - had been agreed.
A spokeswoman for DIT said the institute was working with the students' union to "create the structures to enable the shops to resume trading" but she accepted a breakthrough would not now be made until at least the New Year.