Second day of industrial action by Eddie Stobart drivers

Drivers employed by Eddie Stobart are taking a second day of industrial action today in a dispute over working hours and health and safety issues.

SIPTU says the company continues to refuse to engage with union representatives on their "legitimate grievances".

The industrial action involves 24-hour work stoppage from 8am this morning and an official picket at the Ballymun depot used by the distributor which is involved in the delivery of goods to the Tesco retail stores across Ireland.

A statement from Stobart Ireland read: "The majority of drivers do not support this industrial action, just as they did not the support the previous strike decision.

"Drivers have indicated their intention to work and we want to ensure our customers that all commitments will be met in full.

"The ongoing direct engagement between the company, driver representatives and SIPTU’s own local representative continues to work positively and we remain committed to this approach.

"SIPTU’s claims about our safety standards are misleading and not supported by the facts.

"Two recent standard audits of our business by the Road Safety Authority found us to be fully compliant. We would welcome inspections by any regulatory body of our safety standards."

SIPTU sector Organiser, Karan O’Loughlin, said: "This inaction on the company’s part is leaving the drivers with no alternative but to engage in a second industrial action in order to highlight their grievances.

"The refusal of the company to engage has strengthened the determination of the drivers to achieve a fair and just outcome to the dispute.

SIPTU vice-president, Patricia King, said: "Certain parties to this dispute would be better served, as would their customers, if they invested energies and resources into encouraging engagement on the issues giving rise to the dispute as opposed to resorting to court action."