THE dispute over plans to privatise kitchen and catering services at University College Hospital, Galway, looks set to escalate over the coming weeks. This follows a two day strike by over 300 workers last Thursday and Friday.
Members of the SIPTU trade union who took part in last week's strike have warned they may bring the hospital to a complete shutdown.
Representatives of the non medical support staff, who staged a 48 hour walk out, have applied to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions for an all out picket which would also affect medical and nursing staff.
The SIPTU members have decided to go ahead with the three day work stoppage, planned for Wednesday to Friday of next week, after failing to reach agreement with management.
During last week's walk out meals were prepared and served by various groups, with management insisting that "minimal disruption" was caused.
But SIPTU remains opposed to moves to privatise catering services on the basis that such a move would eventually lead to the "letting go" of long term temporary staff.
Mr Gerry Corbert, PRO for the striking workers, said: "The public has been very sympathetic to our cause and if we do not find a resolution we will have no choice but to shut down the hospital."