Move comes as construction unions press for pay rises as part of Sectoral Employment Order

 “Workers must share in construction recovery”

June 19th: Trade union Unite – which represents over 90 per cent of Crane Operators in Ireland – announced today that members have voted overwhelmingly for strike action in pursuit of pay rises contained within a draft collective agreement proposed by the union and submitted to the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) at the end of April.

Separately, Unite and other construction unions will be attending the Labour Court next week on foot of the CIF’s application for a Sectoral Employment Order (SEO) to govern the construction sector; the unions are seeking rises of up to 15% for construction workers in the context of the establishment of the SEO.

The news comes as construction growth hits a 15-month high, with activity in the sector rising in each of the past 45 months.

Commenting, Unite Regional Organiser for Construction Tom Fitzgerald said that the Construction Industry Federation has yet to engage meaningfully in respect of the pay claim submitted at the end of April:

“Last week around 77 per cent of our members turned out to ballot, with over 90 per cent voting for industrial action.  That is a massive mandate, and reflects our members’ growing frustration at the lack of engagement with the CIF, especially at a time when the construction sector is booming.  Construction workers are demanding that they share fully in the construction recovery.

“Unite is now planning a series of strike days in the coming weeks, and we have notified the employers accordingly.

“Unless employers come to the table and engage meaningfully with Unite and our members, there is a very real risk of idle cranes on the skyline – and an idle crane means an idle building site”, Tom Fitzgerald concluded.