Dublin's €750 million port tunnel could be significantly disrupted within weeks after workers' representatives yesterday threatened a strike over what they say is the failure of management to grant employees union recognition.
Siptu branch secretary Owen Reidy said Transroute Tunnel Operations, the company which was awarded a five-year State contract to operate the tunnel, was refusing to engage in discussions with it over the terms and conditions of employment of its members.
Mr Reidy said there are now 52 members of Siptu working at the tunnel, including toll collectors, patrollers, supervisors and control-room operators.
He claimed this represented about 70 per cent of all employees.
At approximately €588 gross per week for a four-day, 12-hour night shift for toll operators, for example, he claimed that the rates of pay and terms of conditions of employment were significantly less than at other well-known competitors.
He added that while workers were doing their utmost to avoid industrial action, they were now "considering everything, including an all-out strike".
Industrial action could take place within weeks, he said.
"It is completely unacceptable that a company which has been awarded an attractive State contract - and given significant public monies to operate a vital piece of public infrastructure - should deny their employees' legitimate right to be collectively represented by a trade union," he said.
"The workers have been trying to engage with management collectively since June of this year in order to address their concerns and to build a constructive and progressive relationship with Transroute."
The contract to operate and maintain the tunnel is thought to be worth €15 million to Transroute over five years, Mr Reidy said.
In a statement issued on his behalf, Transroute managing director Pierre Charcellay said the company had no obligation to recognise Siptu.
"We have a forum in place to talk to and negotiate with staff directly," he said. "We are currently dealing with staff in relation to any issues that have been raised to date."