Strike threatened at Dublin Port

Dublin Port is facing disruption next week after Siptu announced plans for industrial action next Friday.

The union served strike notice on Marine Terminals, which is one of nine competing terminals operating at Dublin Port, in a dispute over compulsory redundancies and cuts in pay and conditions.

Earlier this year, the firm decided to make 19 Siptu staff out of its 70-strong workforce redundant, with the remainder of employees represented by the union told that they would have to sign new contracts and take 14 per cent to 18 per cent pay cuts. Siptu says staff were informed they would have to agree to the cuts or face losing their jobs.

The Labour Court last week issued an opinion in favour of the union under the Protection of Employment Act, 2007, after Marine Terminals threatened significant redundancies within its workforce. It warned that the firm may have been in breach of the Act in relation to many of the lay-offs if it had proceeded with its plans.

The company has placed its workforce on a 20-hour week, and Siptu claims it has brought in workers from Scotland and Northern Ireland to provide cover.

Union representatives have accused the firm of a "consistent unwillingness" to accept agreed procedures for dealing with issues.

"This is a particularly difficult and unpleasant dispute", Siptu group organiser Oliver McDonagh said.

"This company has behaved appallingly and has avoided all our attempts to negotiate with it. We remain available to talk about change, including redundancies. I can tell them now that they will get the redundancies they are looking for provided they negotiate and are willing to offer a decent package."

Dublin Port