Archaeologists to Dig4Decency at Portmarnock site

November 4th:  Unite, which represents commercial archaeologists in Ireland, today (Sunday November 4th) announced that members working for the Irish Archaeological Consultancy at the company’s site in Portmarnock will be taking a third day of strike action against the company on Thursday November 8th. The 24-hour stoppage will involve pickets being placed at Drumnigh, a site in Portmarnock largely comprising early medieval remains, with a figure-of-eight enclosure and a souterrain.  The action, notice of which was served last week, follows two 24-hour stoppages at sites in Macroom and Dublin’s Aungier Street in July.

In June, Unite members working for IAC voted to take strike action on foot of the company’s refusal to engage with Unite regarding a pay claim, either directly or through the Workplace Relations Commission.

Commenting, Unite Regional Coordinating Officer Richie Browne said:

“The Irish Archaeological Consultancy has persistently refused to engage collectively with the archaeologists who have built up the company.

“These actions will continue until IAC moves to resolve this dispute by engaging collectively with their workers through their union Unite”.

Jean O’Dowd is chair of Unite’s archaeological branch and added:

“On Thursday November 8th, Unite members investigating medieval remains in Portmarnock will once again be forced to down trowels due to their employer’s refusal to negotiate collectively through the union of the workers’ choice.

“Despite two previous days of industrial action, as well as multiple invitations from ourselves and the WRC, IAC has refused to talk or meet with us or engage in any way, leaving us with no option but to engage in a third stoppage.

“Our members have been encouraged by the support they have received from across the archaeological profession.  We will continue to ‘Dig4Decency’ until IAC recognises that the skilled professionals who investigate the past deserve to be treated decently in the present”, Jean O’Dowd concluded.