Workers plan strike at Cork Opera House

Workers at one of the Republic's largest theatres are planning a one-day strike at the venue due to a dispute over pay.

Workers at one of the Republic's largest theatres are planning a one-day strike at the venue due to a dispute over pay.

More than 60 staff at Cork Opera House will stage a picket outside the venue on June 22nd after Siptu reinstated its notice to strike.

The proposed action is a further escalation in an ongoing dispute between Siptu and management.

Strike action was first voted upon in November 2005 but was suspended when the company conceded an increase of between 5 per cent and 8 per cent in various categories.

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Along with this, the company promised to re-engage in negotiations and make a further proposal at the end of March 2006.

However, the Opera House sought the deferral of the implementation of the new national wage agreement until April 2007.

The company offered a number of incentives, including sick pay and pension schemes.

However, Siptu's assistant branch organiser, Bill Mulcahy, said none of these proposals would be accepted as long as the national pay agreement was off the table.

"We would ask the management to stop beating around about pension and rates - that is all fine when you retire but it means little if your wages are abysmal. There must be a real engagement between the union and management to resolve this problem."

Despite the announcement of strike action, the Opera House will have a last opportunity to avert the strike as it enters talks with Siptu in the coming days.

In a statement, the venue outlined its proposal to deal with the problem.

"The Cork Opera House did put forward a revised proposal as promised, resulting in an overall increase of 10 per cent across all categories with a further uplift of almost 8 per cent for the lowest category.

"In addition, the company offered a new sick-pay scheme, pension scheme and employee risk scheme."