A major review of construction industry pay and conditions was in jeopardy last night after building workers warned they would not accept any deal it produced unless they were represented at the negotiating table.
As part of the resolution of the scaffolders' dispute earlier this year, it was agreed the Construction Industry National Joint Industrial Council (CINJIC) would undertake a root-and-branch review of the sector.
However, general construction operatives, who account for 60 per cent of the building workforce, are angry that they have just one representative on the 16-member CINJIC.
A mass meeting yesterday of almost 400 general operatives demanded to have worker representatives on the CINJIC. They want five, according to the Dublin Alliance of General Construction Operatives (DAGCO) chairman, Mr Andrew McGuinness.
"There will be no deal without workers' representatives," he insisted. "Any agreement will then have to be brought back to the workers and the members will have the final decision."
SIPTU, which represents the operatives, has already written to the CINJIC seeking worker representation.
Workers at yesterday's meeting also warned that unless the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) regulated the use of casual labourers, DAGCO members would take unofficial industrial action to tackle the situation.
There were up to 15,000 "agency" workers operating on Dublin construction sites, who worked on a day-by-day basis, without continuity of employment, job protection, a pension or sick pay, Mr McGuinness said. "If we allow this to continue, we will be undermining our own jobs," he added.
A CIF spokesman said the issue of "agency" workers had never been formally raised with them. The federation was very disappointed that SIPTU would engage in unofficial action. There were set procedures for dealing with disputes, he said.
Worker representation was an issue for SIPTU, which would have to sort out the division of trade union seats at the CINJIC, the CIF said.
DAGCO is also concerned about the pension scheme and pay and conditions. A worker retiring this week, after 35 years, and currently paying £14 a week into his pension scheme would be entitled to a pension of just £40 a week, Mr McGuinness noted. This was "pathetic", he said.
On the pay front, the general construction operatives are unhappy with the current scheme, which ties their pay to between 80 and 90 per cent of the craft workers' rate.
The Irish Productivity Centre is currently working on a new pay system which DAGCO would be seeking to have implemented, Mr McGuinness said.