Crane operators dispute set to escalate next week

Disruptions on major Irish building sites are set to escalate next week after crane operators in the Unite trade union voted almost unanimously to extend their pay dispute.

Until now the dispute had been limited to crane drivers employed by agencies and non- Construction Industry Federation companies.

The trade union is due to serve notice of industrial action on the CIF, which represents construction companies, on Thursday morning.

The ballot to decide whether to extend the strike action was held last Friday.

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Unite warned there could be widespread disruption to building activities until the notice of industrial action expires in the middle of next week.

The union has called for an increase in the minimum hourly rate of pay for crane operators in the union from €16.69 an hour to €24 an hour.

Trade union members picketed three construction sites in Dublin on Wednesday as part of the industrial action which began last week, including two John Paul Construction sites on Sir John Rogerson’s Quay and Windmill Lane and another at Bennett’s site on City Quay.

Unite regional officer for construction Tom Fitzgerald said members had been no option but to take industrial action in pursuit of pay rises following the CIF’s “refusal to engage meaningfully”.

“It is time for construction workers to start sharing in the construction sector’s recovery,” said Mr Fitzgerald.

“Since 2012, profits per employee in the sector have more than doubled, while wages are still below 2004 levels in real terms. Unite is determined to ensure that construction jobs are decent jobs paying decent wages.”