Irish Ferries talks at LRC break down

The Irish Ferries dispute looks set to enter its second week after talks at the Labour Relations Commission ended in deadlock last night.

SIPTU began all-out strike action on Monday last, over plans to outsource 150 Irish seafaring jobs on the Rosslare-Cherbourg route.

Irish Ferries has stated its continental service had become increasingly uncompetitive and it had no option but to contract out employment on the route.

SIPTU official Paul Smyth said despite their best efforts, talks between the two sides would now appear to be at an end.

Mr Smyth said that Irish Ferries has rejected union proposals to cut costs by €2.5m. He accused management of wanting to dump Irish seafarers and replace them with low cost agency crews.