Kilburn Developments, a large brick and block-laying contractor, has threatened to withdraw from Ireland because of unofficial industrial action by bricklayers. Unofficial pickets by members of the Building and Allied Trades Union have disrupted work at four sites in Dublin where Kilburn Developments is carrying out work for McNamara Construction. On one site at Beaumont Hospital gardai had to be called on Wednesday to escort workers past the pickets.
The dispute has arisen because McNamara Construction is not prepared to employ bricklayers directly.