Work on building sites throughout Dublin is likely to be disrupted today by unofficial action by scaffolders claiming increases of between 50 per cent and 300 per cent on basic pay. Scaffolding contractors and subcontractors are to hold an emergency meeting this afternoon at the Construction Industry Federation to discuss the situation.
The employers have offered to meet SIPTU, the scaffolders' union, on March 31st to discuss the pay claim.
It remains to be seen if a mandatory meeting of the Dublin Scaffolders' Society, an unofficial grouping, will accept the offer.
The society has held two disruptive "mandatory" meetings so far this month and there are concerns that today's meeting could lead to an all-out unofficial strike that would paralyse the construction sector.
The society is to meet at lunch time in Liberty Hall to hear a report on discussions between SIPTU and CIF representatives on pay, safety and training conditions.
Industry sources were hopeful yesterday that the offer by the CIF to discuss pay may avert an all-out confrontation at this stage. A CIF spokesman, Mr Eddie Keenan, said that yesterday was the first time any pay proposals had formally been presented to the employers by SIPTU.
His members are to discuss them at a series of meetings beginning today.