Deadline for former union staff on sit-i

FORMER employees of trade union BATU have been given until 10am today to vacate the union’s Dublin headquarters before officials go to the courts to seek their removal.

The workers, six of whom have been let go by the Building and Allied Trade Union in the past four months, took over the offices on Sunday night. They claim that as paid-up members of the union they are entitled under an 1871 act to remain there.

The dispute between the union and its staff began when two staff were made redundant last May. The union claimed it was making the cutbacks due to a downturn in the construction industry.