Cleaning staff at the Central Bank, some of whom are over 70 years old, have voted in favour of strike action in a bid to secure pension rights.
"These are low paid workers, many of whom have well over 20 years service with no pension rights" said Ms Chris Rowland, SIPTU’s Dublin Services Branch Secretary.
Ms Rowland said the Bank had "continuously" refused to provide the cleaning staff with a pension. She said the union was seeking a lump sum for the workers in lieu of pension but that management had refused to make a reasonable offer.
Central Bank spokesman Mr Neil Whoriskey said the Bank was aware of the cleaners' vote but notification of strike action had not been received.
He denied SIPTU's claims that cleaners were being treated differently from other workers.
"The cleaners had in fact been invited to join the same pension scheme as other bank employees however they have declined that offer," Mr Whorisky said.
The matter is before the Labour Court this afternoon.