One of the State's largest building firms has agreed a new arbitration system with the Building and Allied Trades Union. This is expected to be a blueprint for dealing with a rash of unofficial disputes in the industry.
Yesterday 29 bricklayers and carpenters at Sisk's site in Croke Park, Dublin, accepted settlement terms after a two-week strike. The deal includes a "fast-track" mediation procedure for disputes. Management and BATU agreed to appoint a mediator within a week, in the event of future disputes.
The unions have complained that one reason for the spate of unofficial strikes, which led to the jailing of two building workers last month, is that dispute procedures take too long. Work often stops before the Labour Relations Commission or Labour Court can intervene.
The Construction Industry Federation, which represents contractors, was involved in resolving the dispute. BATU now hopes the agreement will be replicated across the sector.
The dispute at Croke Park was over the alleged victimisation of two bricklayers, who were shop stewards, and rates of pay for carpenters. Sisk has undertaken to re-employ the bricklayers by December 7th, and to negotiate a productivity pay scheme for carpenters. The strikers are to receive £4,000 compensation for loss of earnings during the stoppage.