The Limerick Building Workers' Group of Unions yesterday called for an all-out national strike after negotiations with the local branch of the Construction Industry Federation to end an unofficial dispute broke down.
Earlier over 600 workers in the building trades held a march through the city in protest against "being forced to work for sub-contractors" on major sites.
Mr Joe Carey, chairman of the Limerick and District Woodworkers' Society, said they had put forward proposals including an agreement to withdraw the pickets on building sites, but woodworkers would not resume work until the matter was clarified. He said that the CIF broke off negotiations because the carpenters were not returning to work.