Workers at the Irish ISPAT steel plant in Cork went on unofficial strike yesterday.
Some 200 members of SIPTU walked off the job early yesterday morning.
Some workers said the dispute was over the suspension of two union members while others said it was because management was doing the work of SIPTU members. On more than one occasion the plant has been faced with closure. Before ISPAT, the Indian multinational which has had a record of taking over ailing steel plants throughout the world and turning them around, took over the plant, its future looked bleak.
ISPAT acquired the plant for a nominal sum but promised in return that it would invest millions of pounds in the Haulbowline facility. Despite the promise of investment, morale has been low and workers say they have no confidence in its long-term future.