A strike at Dublin Port is to go ahead this morning after talks between the Port Company and the Technical, Engineering and Electrical Union (TEEU) broke down last night.
About 30 TEEU members are now due to picket the port from 7am in a dispute over a decision by the port company to suspend nine shore-based fitters and electricians.
The union workers will also withdraw maintenance services at the port. Meanwhile other unions, including Siptu and the Seaman's Union of Ireland, plan to ballot their members today on a recommendation to support the TEEU strike.
Should other unions resolve to join the strike it would mean the stoppage of clerical and administrative work, radio operations and piloting of tug boats, which unions say, would close the port.
The TEEU claims the company suspended its shore-based members for refusing work on board tug boats and to fill in for ship's crew when they are short-staffed.
The company said the suspension resulted from the men's refusal to comply with a "reasonable management request" to undergo additional training. It said the request was in line with its agreements with the union.
Last Thursday the union said it had offered to allow members to participate in a three-week familiarisation course on the tugs while talks take place. However, the company said it would only lift the suspensions if workers agreed to comply with all management instructions while talks continued with unions.
