SIPTU representatives of waste collectors in the Dun Laoghaire/Rahtdown county council area have threatened to extend their strike action unless 90 outstanding issues between the workers and the council are resolved.
Speaking to ireland.comthis afternoon, Mr John Glennon, SIPTI representative for the strikers said that talks, which broke-down after a few hours last Friday had to be resumed at the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) before the dispute would be resolved.
He also denied that the county council had requested union members to return to work pending LRC hearings. He said the council had not been in contact with him since talks broke-down on Friday.
A statement issued by the council earlier today said union members had been asked to return to work and that half of the contentious issues - of which it said there were 71 - had been resolved.
"There has been absolutely no contact between the unions and the county council," Mr Glennon said.
"There has been no request to go back to work and as far as I am aware there has been no offer of mediation at the LRC.
"If things continue they way there are going at the moment then this is going to be a very long strike."
The dispute, Mr Glennon said, revolves around 90 separate issues focusing on human resources and the failure on behalf of the council to implement agreements signed between 15 and 18 months ago.
The dispute lead to the temporary closure of the Dean’s Grange and Shanganagh cemeteries this morning because of picket lines. However, the pickets were taken down following intervention by Mr Glennon.
The county council statement says: "Residents in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown are asked not to put out waste bins for collection until the strike called today by members of SIPTU is settled and normal work resumes at Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.
"The Council has requested the union to return to work, pending a meeting with the Labour Relations Commission, sought by the Council this morning. The Council is anxious to resolve all outstanding issues as quickly as possible
"All outdoor services at the local authority are affected by the dispute. They include public parks being closed, roads not being swept and bins not being collected. Limited services are available at the County Council’s offices in Dun Laoghaire and Dundrum."