Irish and Polish workers on the €9 million Eyre Square project in Galway downed tools yesterday, claiming lack of payment or reduced wages.
The 19 Irish and 11 Polish staff employed by Samuel Kingston Construction Ltd, based in Cork, claimed they had not been paid their full wages last Friday. The staff, who are not unionised, will meet this morning to decide whether to resume work.
Michael Barrett, one of the staff affected, said that four or five of the group received no wages at all for last week, while others got half what they were due.
About 11 of the staff walked off site last Friday and another 11 on Monday, but all 30 withdrew their labour at 1pm yesterday after a short meeting. Mr Barrett said a company representative had told them they would be paid by last night.
Mr Barrett, from Connemara, told The Irish Times: "There are a few every week who don't get paid till Monday or Tuesday, and many of us are three weeks behind in receiving actual pay slips."
Mr Barrett said the rate of pay and conditions were not the issue, but the lack of continuity in full payment. Staff employed by Samuel Kingston in Galway earn an average of €13 an hour for a 45-hour week.
Sam Kingston was unavailable for comment yesterday.
His firm is the main contractor in the €9 million project, which also involves upgrading sewerage and other infrastructural works in the city centre.
Since the contract was awarded by Galway City Council, the project has been the subject of controversy; initially over plans to remove trees, latterly over disruption to business and traffic, and recently over a cost overrun.
Galway City Council said the contractor was responsible for the main workforce on site, but it would insist that there was no impact on the timescale for completing the project.
Michelle McDonagh adds: Galway traders met council officials yesterday to discuss the latest phase of the Eyre Square project, which will further disrupt traffic in the city centre.
Declan McDonnell of the Heart of Galway group said the traders had accepted that the roadworks had to be carried out to complete the project, but were disappointed at the delay in the start of this work.
