Anti-bin tax protesters have threatened to stop all bin collections in Dublin this morning in a blockade of the capital's seven bin depots.
Meanwhile, the Technical Engineering and Electrical Union (TEEU) has moved to distance itself from certain elements of the anti-bin tax campaign.
The Fingal Anti-Bin Tax Campaign said the group hoped to "totally shut down" all rubbish collection from 7.30 a.m. today in an escalation of its campaign against the bin charges.
The campaigners said they would block four depots in Dublin city and one each in south Dublin, Dún Laoghaire and Fingal.
Mr Michael Murphy, spokesman for the Fingal Anti-Bin Tax Campaign, said protesters would maintain the blockade for "as long as possible".
The group has also called on all city centre workers to walk off their jobs at 12.30 p.m. today and join a rally at the GPO on O'Connell Street. People who do not work in the city centre have been encouraged to hold public protests outside their workplaces at the same time.
The Fingal protesters called on unions to support the protest. However, there has been a distancing of some union officials from the protesters, following the heckling of the SIPTU president, Mr Jack O'Connor, at Saturday's protest.
Yesterday, the TEEU criticised the behaviour of some anti-bin tax protesters and called on campaigners to "pull back".
The TEEU repeated its opposition to bin charges but its acting general secretary, Mr Eamon Devoy, said "the behaviour of a small noisy minority at Saturday's march is threatening to erode support within the trade union movement". He called for "a breathing space" in the row and said protesters should "consider calmly the various strategic options".
Mr O'Connor said SIPTU condemned the jailing of protesters but was concerned about the tactics of the current campaign.
The ICTU's secretary, Mr David Begg, came under fire from protesters again yesterday for questioning the tactics of the campaigners. He said political activists were wrong to lead "ordinary working people into a cul-de-sac of imprisonment in pursuit of a political objective".
Yesterday, an ICTU spokesman said Mr Begg stood by his statement and had nothing new to add to it.
Fifteen protesters have now been jailed in connection with anti-bin tax protests since September 19th. Three women were the latest to be jailed yesterday for defying a court order not to disrupt the collection of bins by Dublin City Council.
The first protester will be released on Thursday when Ms Lisa Carroll finishes a week in jail. She received a shorter sentence because she was breastfeeding.
Mr Joe Higgins and Ms Clare Daly will be released on Saturday after spending a month in prison. Yesterday, Ms Daly's husband, Mr Michael Murphy, said she vowed to continue her protest.
