Staff at Dublin Port will go on strike from 7am tomorrow morning after talks in the Labour Relations Commission broke down this evening.
The talks between the of the Technical Engineering and Electrical Union and other craft unions and the Dublin Port company were trying to reach a resolution on a dispute that centres on the company's decision to suspend several workers for refusing to work on tugboats. The talks broke down without agreement shortly after 8.30pm.
The dispute arose after Dublin Port suspended nine shore-based fitters and electricians after they refused to work on tugboats, claiming it was not part of their normal duties.
The union says the company is insisting that workers must give an "unconditional commitment" to carry out any instruction given to them by management before it will lift the suspensions.
But the company said it had honoured its industrial relations agreement with the TEEU. It also said it offered to lift the suspensions at last week's meeting with the union in an effort to resolve the dispute.
After the talks broke down TEEU regional secretary Arthur Hall said based on the response of the company to proposals from the union "we have no option but to proceed with the strike. We remain available for talks."