Guinness workers throughout the State yesterday began balloting on whether to take industrial action in support of 300 workers in Dundalk who are to lose their jobs.
Union sources indicate there will be overwhelming support for the ballot which will sanction all-out strikes around the State.
The Joint Union Forum, representing unions in the nine Guinness plants in the State, called the ballot after the company refused to lift its threat to shed the Dundalk jobs. The JUF had considered suspending the ballot if last week's intervention by the Labour Relations Commission had resulted in the company lifting its threat to the 300 jobs.
They are to go ahead with the closure of the Dundalk packaging plant and a reduction of its brewing operation.
While another meeting between the company and the JUF is scheduled for the LRC tomorrow, balloting of all union members will continue.
The Congress of Trade Unions will aggregate the ballot and a result is expected on Monday, August 21st. If it is in favour of industrial action, all-out strikes are expected almost immediately.
Announcing the job cuts three weeks ago to a mass meeting of the Dundalk workers, Guinness said it had to cut costs because of competition and added that its review of its other operations in the State was continuing.