Householders in parts of Dublin were left without a bin collection service yesterday because of stoppage by Dublin City Council cleansing staff.
A council spokeswoman said between half and three-quarters of bins were collected after staff returned to work from mid-day.
The industrial action was taken by SIPTU members in support of colleagues involved in a union recognition dispute with Oxigen Environmental, a private company employed by the local authority to dispose of recyclable household waste.
About 300 council workers, including bin collectors, took part in the dispute. The council described the action as "bizarre", given that the grievances related to a private company outside of its control. It also accused the union of operating outside the terms of Sustaining Progress and said workers could disqualify themselves from benchmarking pay increases.
SIPTU denied it was acting in breach of the partnership programme, and threatened to escalate the dispute if it was not resolved. Oxigen is refusing to negotiate with the union over pay and conditions, claiming SIPTU represents only 30 workers out of a staff of 300. It says it has good conditions for workers, pays bonuses and operates sick-pay and pension schemes.
Bins not collected yesterday will be collected next Thursday.
