The National Gallery of Ireland is threatened with disruption and even closure during the peak summer season if up to 70 SIPTU staff vote to strike over an investigation by management into allegations that a member of staff at the gallery has harassed 10 colleagues.
The union has decided to take the ballot on strike action because it claims due process has not been followed during the investigation.
Mr Mick Corcoran, a SIPTU branch secretary, said a decision by senior management at the gallery to investigate 13 allegations against the man, by 10 workers, is contrary to the policy of lower-level management investigating such allegations.
"The idea of complaints being investigated at the lowest level possible means all involved have the opportunity to appeal an outcome to a higher level.
"But in this case the director of the gallery is involved, so it's unclear who all the parties could appeal to if they are not happy with the outcome," Mr Corcoran said.
He added that some of the complaints dated back to October 2003, which ran contrary to best practice of conducting such investigations without "undue delay".
"We would argue that that time period is undue delay and that due process is not being followed and there is no element of natural justice in the process," Mr Corcoran said.
Between 60 and 70 SIPTU members who work at the gallery as security attendants are due to cast their vote on industrial action, up to and including all-out strike, at the gallery before the ballot closes tomorrow.
Mr Gerry D'Arcy, head of administration at the gallery, said even if strike action went ahead the gallery would not close.
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