The leadership of the craftworkers' union is to hold an emergency meeting today with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions after members narrowly voted in favour of strike action, scheduled for June 22nd.
Of 2,358 craftworkers balloted, a majority of 146, or 1,252, voted against the settlement, which was recommended by the Labour Court and supported by union leadership.
Mr Paddy Coughlan, chairman of the Local Authority and Health Boards Craft Group of Unions, said he was disappointed but not surprised by the vote. "I always thought it would be close. On the positive side, it suggests it would not take much to push it over the top in the case of another ballot."
The effect of the decision is to reinstate a strike notice of seven working days which had been suspended for consideration of the Labour Court recommendations. The court had suggested a weekly pay increase of £25.06 in three phases, just 20p short of the union's demand.
However, craftworkers who held unofficial strikes at hospitals throughout the State last month had resisted productivity demands and wished to see the pay increase with "no strings attached".
Mr Coughlan said their demand was unrealistic, adding, "We will have to accede to some productivity measures." He said confusion over this issue and on flexibility was partly responsible for the ballot defeat.
He stressed that procedures have been agreed with local authorities and health boards which can be put into practice to deal with emergencies in the event of strike action. "Our members will come off strike and work unpaid for the duration of the emergency if needs be."
A national meeting of the nine unions involved in the craft group is to take place on Monday.
Mr Coughlan said, "We are available at any given time for discussions and, as a responsible union, would like to see any disruption avoided. If it goes ahead it will be one of the worst industrial disputes this country has ever seen." He said, however, the group is not seeking a meeting with the health boards or local authorities but that "it's up to employers".
SIPTU said that, in line with a previous decision, its members would support the craftworkers and respect any official pickets.
