Further talks yesterday between SIPTU and the Construction Industry Federation aimed at breaking the impasse in the scaffolders' strike gave little ground for optimism as the action continues to spread.
The talks convened by Mr Kevin Foley, chairman of the construction industry's Joint Industrial Council, have provided a forum from which it is believed some progress must eventually be made.
Mr Foley is also industrial relations officer with the Labour Relations Commission, and his initiative in getting the two sides around the table means that a formal mechanism is in place again after more than a week of stalemate. Mr Eric Fleming, secretary of SIPTU's construction branch, conceded that there were signs of "halting progress", despite the difficulties involved in an unofficial dispute that has hit most major sites in Dublin, Cork and Limerick.
He was not optimistic, however, that real progress could be made unless the employers were willing to consider the scaffolders' pay demands. A CIF spokesman last night reiterated that there could be no
negotiation until the unofficial action stopped. So far, 600 scaffolders and 500 or 600 other construction workers have been laid off because of the action. The core issue of the dispute is pay, with the scaffolders seeking to emulate the success of crane drivers at the beginning of the year. At that time SIPTU secured increases of £3 an hour.
The scaffolders have suggested a figure of £18 an hour, in contrast to the current minimum rate of around £6.70, to bring them into line with the the bricklayers' craft rate. But few believe this to be anything but an opening gambit. SIPTU is also believed to be pursuing non-pay considerations on behalf of its scaffolders that may form part of an ultimate settlement formula.
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