SIPTU has called on the Dublin city manager to intervene in an industrial dispute which is expected to result in disruptions to the capital's bin collection services tomorrow.
The union balloted over 200 members working in Dublin City Council's cleansing department last week and they voted to strike tomorrow in support of workers at Oxigen Environment, the company that collects 'green' bins in the city.
SIPTU's local authorities branch secretary, Mr Paul Smyth called on Oxigen to accept an invitation from the Labour Relations Commission to investigate the dispute. He said the issue in question was "the basic right of workers to be represented by a trade union of their choice and to agree terms and conditions of employment".
Oxigen has said it will not prevent workers from joining a trade union. However, it has refused to negotiate with SIPTU on behalf of more than 50 people at the company who have joined the union.
Oxigen has, however, denied allegations of bullying and harassment made by SIPTU, describing them as "absolute nonsense".
Mr Smyth said today: "We would like to remind the City Manager of the commitments given to the trade unions in relation to the use of contractors in the 1997 Procedural Agreement For Use Of Contractors."That Agreement says contractors are required to implement certain minimum conditions and rates of pay and commits the Council to discussing with the trade unions any difficulties we have in relation to particular contractors. We expect the city manager tohonour those commitments."
Workers at Oxigen have been picketing the company's three Dublin depots for almost four weeks. Tomorrow, they will be joined by Dublin City Council employees and bin collections will be disrupted for at least part of the day.
"Even at this late stage, we are asking the parties to come to the negotiating table. But if Dublin City Council or the management of Oxigen ignore our request, we will have no option but to seriously consider escalating this dispute," Mr Smyth said.
A protest march will take place from Liberty Hall to the Civic Offices, Dublin City Council's headquarters, tomorrow morning.