SIPTU workers approve strike action

A joint meeting of local authority and health board workers who are members of SIPTU's craft group of unions will take place next Thursday to consider implementing a decision to strike from December 1st. The decision follows a ballot in a pay dispute.

It was disclosed yesterday that the majority of 30,000 general operative, non-nursing and related grades working for the State's health boards and local authorities had voted for strike action in a dispute over pay.

Six weeks ago negotiations between the craft group of unions and their employers collapsed when agreement could not be reached on a pay claim which resulted from the Analogue Review.

SIPTU members were balloted on industrial action.

Since 1996, as part of an agreement between SIPTU and employers in the local authority and health board sectors, there has been an 80 per cent link between craft and operatives' pay scales. Accordingly SIPTU informed the employers that they intended to pursue fully that 80 per cent relationship in the context of any settlement reached for craft workers.

Members were balloted on support for the craft workers in having their Analogue Agreement honoured, and on having the 80 per cent pay relationship with the craft workers maintained.

Confirming the results of SIPTU's ballot yesterday, the assistant national executive officer, Mr Paul Clarke, said that members had very strong feelings "about this attempt by the Government to renege on an existing agreement."