Hotel labour dispute averted

A proposed unofficial action by up to 1,400 employees of the Doyles Hotels group, arising out of its merger proceedings with …

A proposed unofficial action by up to 1,400 employees of the Doyles Hotels group, arising out of its merger proceedings with Jurys and due to go ahead today, has been averted following a day-long meeting between union representatives and management yesterday. The holding of hundreds of Christmas parties was put at risk after the SIPTU staff threatened to call in sick to the group's seven Dublin hotels, including the Berkeley Court, the Westbury and the Burlington, over the payment of a gratuity on completion of the Jurys £200 million takeover.

Mr Frank O'Malley, a SIPTU hotels, restaurants and catering branch secretary, said two deadlines had passed this month without details being given on the terms and amount of the agreement.

A spokesman for the Doyle family said that the "misunderstanding" had been resolved and the gift of money would be given over "when the deal is done". Mr O'Malley said he could not divulge the amount agreed at the meeting which included, on behalf of management, Ms Bernadette Gallagher, a member of the Doyle family and deputy chairman of the group. "This is a family initiative taken in the context of their negotiations with Jurys," he said.

He added that there had been "a pretty tense" atmosphere during the negotiations which lasted over seven hours. "The outcome is confidential but the matters have been addressed.

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"This is officially an undertaking by the family, given in good faith, in circumstances that have not appeared in other companies," he said. The other hotels where the unofficial action was threatened are the Doyle Montrose, the Doyle Tara, the Skylon and the Green Isle.