THE two day strike by over 300 non medical support staff at Galway's University College Hospital, which enters its second day this morning, will escalate over the coming weeks, the SIPTU union has warned.
Pickets were placed on the five entry points to the hospital grounds shortly after 6 a.m. yesterday by the striking workers, who are objecting to a management move to privatise catering services.
Management yesterday insisted that normal services were being maintained, with "minimal disruption". Meals were prepared and served by a combination of management, non union staff and temporary student labour.
Deputy general manager, Ms Maureen Reed, said yesterday there had been no admissions cancelled or any essential services suspended because of the dispute.
"Services are being maintained by staff not affected by the dispute, with only a minimal disruption to services. We apologise to patients and the public where any inconvenience has occurred and we are available for renegotiation on the dispute at any time," she said.
Senior SIPTU shop stewards and PRO for the striking workers, Mr Gerry Corbett, said yesterday the union had "bent over backwards" in an effort to resolve the dispute, which he blamed solely on "management intransigence".
He warned there would now be a three day work stoppage from August 21st to 23rd and that an application to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions for an all out picket was now being processed and this would bring medical and nursing staff directly into the row.
"The moves to privatise the catering and kitchen service will eventually lead to the loss of jobs down the line by people who are currently in the long term temporary employment category.
"And we fear that this privatisation move is only the thin end of the wedge. If it goes ahead here it will be the forerunner to the privatisation of a whole range of services," said Mr Corbett.
The hospital employs 17 people in the catering and kitchen service, providing some 700 meals a day to patients.
A statement issued yesterday by the hospital management said it was not proposed to reduce the numbers of permanent staff employed.
"Existing kitchen staff are being offered continued employment in catering or redeployment to other areas of the hospital. Every effort will now be made to minimise the disruption caused by the dispute and to ensure that essential services will be provided. We regret any inconvenience to patients, staff and the general public," the statement added.
SIPTU regional secretary, Ms Janet Hughes, said that the dispute centred on the management decision to put all catering services at the hospital out to private contractors and the failure of management to give sufficient reassurance with regard to future plans in coming years.
The SIPTU staff involved in the dispute include catering workers, nursing attendants, porters, security guards, domestic and laundry employees and maintenance workers. The two day strike is due to end at 6 a.m. tomorrow.