A new attempt to resolve the dispute at Gama Construction over the pay and conditions of its Turkish workers is to be made by the Labour Relations Commission (LRC).
The commission yesterday invited both the company and Siptu, which represents Gama's general workers, to attend conciliation talks next week.
Up to 300 of Gama's Turkish workers have been engaged in an unofficial stoppage for the past four weeks, claiming they were paid as little as €2 and €3 an hour and not told about bank accounts in the Netherlands into which a portion of their wages was being paid.
Gama denies the claims. It says all its workers receive the agreed industry rates and they have always been aware of, and had access to, the Dutch bank accounts. Monies in the Dutch accounts have now been released to the workers' personal bank accounts in Turkey. Siptu says the workers are still owed large amounts of unpaid overtime.
Both the union and Gama management attended the LRC on bank holiday Monday for exploratory discussions, after which the commission said it would be in touch with the parties again.
Yesterday it issued an invitation to the sides to return for conciliation talks, which would probably take place next Wednesday.
In a statement, Gama said it had advised the LRC it was available for talks. Siptu official Noel Dowling said the union was considering the invitation.
Members of Siptu and two other unions at Gama, Ucatt and Opatsi, balloted this week in favour of industrial action at the company's sites at Ballymun and Balgaddy in Dublin. Strike notice has not yet been served, but it is understood unofficial pickets at the sites will remain in place.
In a statement responding to the strike threat, Gama said it believed matters could best be resolved by all parties agreeing to the LRC request for conciliation.
Since arriving in Ireland in 2000, Gama has been involved in major construction projects. The company was accused in the Dáil by Socialist Party TD Joe Higgins of exploiting its Turkish employees.
An investigation carried out by the labour inspectorate of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment has been challenged by the company in the High Court.