Union faces strike over redundancies

AMID pay talks and perceived “races to the bottom” in industry standards and pay, one would expect the trade union movement to be showing a “united” front these days.

Yet from tomorrow, the Building and Allied Trades’ Union (BATU) is facing the prospect of strike action and pickets by fellow Irish Congress of Trade Unions member Unite. The dispute is over the selection of two full-time officials at BATU for redundancy. Those officials, while representing the building trade union, became members of the general trade union in the weeks before the redundancies were announced.

It is understood that a voluntary package — described by BATU sources as “generous” — had been offered to the two officials, but was rejected, as they do not accept that they should have been selected for redundancy.

According to Industrial Relations News the officials, who are long-serving staff of BATU, are claiming there should be a “last in, first out” approach taken.

Other sources within the union are not happy with the way the officials have been treated and believe their union is showing double standards. Unite also represents four of BATU’s office staff. It is expected if no moves are made to resolve the situation by tomorrow, a picket will be placed on the BATU offices by Unite once the strike notice expires tomorrow.

Industrial Relations News said Irish Congress of Trade Unions general secretary David Begg has written to both unions, offering its services in resolving the issue and, failing that, has urged both parties to use the Labour Court.

It is understood the construction industry’s decreased levels of unemployment, has affected BATU income and as a result it has been forced to scale back on the number of officials.

The issue had gone to the Labour Relations Commission last week, but no agreement was reached.