Building industry unrest investigation welcomed

A high level investigation into industrial unrest in the building sector, which has been hit by a series of unofficial disputes over the past three years, was announced yesterday.

The study, by consultants Mr Phil Flynn and Mr Tom Mallon, was commissioned by the national implementation body, a group established under the partnership process.

The investigation, to take place over the next four months, will focus particularly on relations between the Building and Allied Trades Union and employers.

It was requested by the Construction Industry Federation, which blames BATU members for many of the disruptive actions on building sites in recent years.

Both the union and the federation reacted positively to yesterday's announcement. Mr Paddy O'Shaughnessy, BATU's general secretary, said the union had not yet been formally notified of the investigation. But he said there were "serious problems"that needed to be tackled, and BATU would play its part in addressing them. It would consider the NIB's announcement and try to respond positively.

A spokesman for the CIF said the disruption of the past three years had created a great deal of instability and driven up the cost of projects.