Polish workers mount unofficial strike at Dublin Port Tunnel

Around 40 Polish nationals working on the Dublin Port Tunnel have gone on strike at the site in the Whitehall area of the city.

SIPTU said the workers placed unofficial pickets on the site this morning in protest at alleged under-payment and an ultimatum to quit their trade union or be sacked.

SIPTU said it had been trying to get the men's employer to conform to Irish labour laws and construction industry rates of pay for four months without success.

It said the workers were being under-paid by around 25% and were not getting payslips.

It also said they had refused to sign an agreement to quit their trade union and were told when they arrived for work this morning that they were sacked.

Spokesman Dave Morris said: "It's out of frustration that the workers have resorted to an unofficial picket."