The threatened industrial action by workers at Ireland's internationally renowned Ashford Castle hotel in Cong, Co Mayo, has been called off.
Yesterday afternoon a staff spokesperson at Ashford Castle said the industrial action due to begin next week over employee pay and conditions and the right to have union representation at negotiations, would now not take place next week.
The spokesperson confirmed that following a meeting of the management and staff at the castle yesterday "we have decided to resolve all outstanding issues internally. No industrial action will be taken next week".
Earlier this week workers at the castle, who are mostly members of SIPTU, voted by a considerable majority to take industrial action next week.
Next week will be a particularly busy week at Ashford Castle as it is race week in Galway. Despite the downturn in tourism nationally this season, the hotel has been full for weeks now.
SIPTU official Mr Colm Keaveney, representing workers at Ashford, said the union was now in talks with management at the castle. "We have had difficulties communicating with management, however, the industrial action planned for next week has been postponed. Agreed procedures, in the short term, to resolve the pay and condition issues are now in place."