A planned one-day strike at the National Gallery in Dublin has been averted, it was confirmed tonight.
The gallery was set to be closed tomorrow because of industrial action by room attendants over their work arrangements.
Discussions aimed at averting the industrial action between the gallery and Siptu, which served notice of the strike, broke down at the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) this afternoon. However, in a statement issued this evening, the union said that agreement had been reached at the LRC to defer the stirke pending the intervention of the national implementation body for the public service agreement.
The room attendants, who patrol the gallery to ensure no damage is caused to the paintings or installations, are seeking a greater variety of duties.
The gallery said it could not agree to any work practice change that would undermine the integrity of its security operations and potentially put the national treasures its holds at risk.
An exhibition of work by the 17th century Dutch painter Gabriel Metsu is currently being hosted by the gallery.
