Tradespeople go on strike at major employers across the country

Kenneth Fox

A number of tradespeople are on strike at major employers across the country as part of a wider movement by members of Unite trade union.

Plumbers, fitters, welders and apprentices who are members of the union began a full-day work stoppage at midnight, having been involved in discussions with the Mechanical Engineering and Building Services Contractor's Association (MEBSCA) over travel allowances.

As the Irish Examiner reports, the Eli Lilly sites in both Cork and Limerick are among six locations of stoppages.

Diageo and Intel will also be picketed by workers.

In August, Unite mechanical members voted overwhelmingly for industrial action, asking for a restoration of the first hour of ‘travel time’.

Payment of the first hour of ‘travel time’ was originally cut as a so-called ‘temporary measure’ following the 2008 financial crash.

This austerity-era cut was meant to be reviewed after a year, but over a decade later workers are still waiting, Unite say.

Restoration of the first hour of ‘travel time’ would mean a significant increase in pay for mechanical construction workers at a time of ongoing cost-of-living pressures, the union adds.

Unite regional officer James McCabe said: “Unless MEBSCA returns to the table and engages meaningfully with Unite regarding restoration of the first hour of ‘travel time’, industrial action will escalate. Resolution of this dispute is in the employers’ hands”.