Striking tradespeople to picket site of National Children's Hospital
The long-delayed National Children's Hospital is now expected to cost the State €2.2bn and is not expected to be completed until 2026 at the earliest. Picture Colin Keegan/ Collins
Tradespeople who are members of the union Unite are set to picket the site of the National Children’s Hospital on Friday as part of their ongoing dispute with employers over pay.
The tradespeople — including plumbers, fitters, welders and apprentices — have been taking industrial action against their employers, members of the representative group Mechanical Engineering & Building Services Contractors' Association, since the middle of August.
They are seeking the restoration of payment for the first hour of travel time which Unite said was initially cut during the 2008 financial crisis in what was supposed to be a temporary measure.
According to the union, 90% of their members voted for industrial action in order to restore this payment.
Since the notice of industrial action was served, three full-day of stoppages have been held at major construction projects around the country where contractors' association employers are carrying out works.
The National Children’s Hospital has been the subject of numerous controversies over the last several years but there has been renewed focus on it in recent weeks.
Earlier this week, the head of the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board David Gunning said he could not make assurances the hospital would be completed by June next year and it is now likely to be pushed back to 2026.
The long-delayed project is now expected to cost the State €2.2bn, with Mr Gunning insisting the price would not be inflated further and the board was unwilling to give developers BAM Ireland any further funds.
BAM Ireland has reportedly made thousands of claims for more money to the tune of €750m.
In a statement, Unite said despite contact with contractors' association this week, their disputes committee had decided there would be a further full-day stoppage on Friday from 12.01am to 11.59pm.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said it was thanks to the “determined action” of Unite members over the past three weeks that the contractors' association had made contact.
“But the employers need to remember that making contact is a long way from resolving this dispute. This is a highly profitable sector, and our members will continue to have Unite’s unstinting support as they fight to have the first hour of ‘travel time’ restored.”
Unite regional officer James McCabe said "employers can well afford to meet our members’ demands”.
When the industrial action first began, the contractors' association said its pay agreements had already been negotiated eight months prior and it was “extremely disappointed” its members were again being targeted by Unite for additional pay increases.
In a statement, it called for an end to Unite’s picketing warning that continuing industrial action could cause "reputational damage to the sector, which will result in job losses".
"The union is striking in pursuit of its claim for the 'restoration of the first hour of travel time'. This allowance was incorporated into hourly rates of pay in 2011 in accordance with an agreement reached at the Workplace Relations Commission between MEBSCA, Unite and Connect," it said.
"Hourly rates of pay increased when the first hour of travel was incorporated into the rate and the higher rate is also paid for overtime and travel.
"We urge Unite to withdraw their notice of further industrial action to protect jobs and livelihoods."
The contacted representatives of BAM Ireland for comment and to ask if the company expected the picketing to cause disruption to the site. A representative for the company said it would not be commenting on the picket.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
