Workers at a HP subsidiary have begun the first of two 24-hour stoppages at the firm's plant in Co Dublin in a row over job security, redundancy terms and pay and conditions.
Engineers and technicians employed by HP Customer Delivery Systems say management at the company have refused to engage with the union representing them.
The 40 IBOA members at the Leixlip plant have been joined by other workers on the picket.
The workers provide maintenance services for a range of electronic equipment including bank ATM machines and point-of-sale devices in shops. They also maintain computer systems in a number of Government departments including the processing of social welfare cheques.
Irish Bank Officials’ Association said management at the company signalled its intention to renege on an existing collective agreement and rejected a recent Labour Court recommendation urging HP CDS to engage in dialogue with the union.
The union was to stage a work stoppage at the beginning of August but when management signalled its intent to engage with them it was postponed. However in the following weeks these attempts “fell flat” as the talks were to be confined to a small group of workers a spokesman for the union said.
Staff have raised concerns over job security, redundancy terms, pay, possible transfer and redeployment, as well as the general management culture and issues relating to dignity and respect at work.
IBOA general secretary Larry Broderick said management has adopted a “wholly negative posture” to the situation.
“IBOA has repeatedly indicated its willingness to negotiate but management has refused to enter into meaningful talks by rejecting the best efforts of the Labour Court and seeking to rescind previous agreements with the union.
“The stance taken by management in HP CDS is all the more surprising because IBOA has developed a constructive relationship with the management of the parent company, HP, on behalf of our members directly employed there,” he added.
A second work stoppage will take place on Thursday unless meaningful negotiations begin in the meantime, the union added.