Car testing workers vote to end strike

Workers at car testing centres around Ireland will return to work tomorrow after voting to end their ongoing strike over working…

Workers at car testing centres around Ireland will return to work tomorrow after voting to end their ongoing strike over working arrangements and pay.

Workers from National Car Testing Centres, members of the SIPTU trade union, voted in favour of a management offer by a majority of 73 to 40 at a meeting in Tullamore, Co Offaly.

The strike, which began in Dublin on January 17th and spread to the rest of the country on February 7th, has disrupted the compulsory tests, forcing local authorities to issue short-term car tax certificates.

Ms Barbara Kelly, a spokeswoman for SIPTU, said: "The deal was a good one in that there were adjustments to rostering and they will get a workers' director.

READ MORE

"The company is also committed to talks with the union in May over the payment of bonuses through a gain-sharing and profit-sharing scheme."

Around 160 mechanics and inspectors, most of them Dublin-based, were involved in the strike at 40 testing centres, which was sparked off by management plans to introduce new ten-hour working shifts.

Ms Kelly added: "The main problem for those voting against the deal was that the issue of basic pay was not addressed.

"Under a harmonisation of rates, those outside Dublin will get a pay increase of IR£37, but there will be no overall adjustment."