A construction company whose sites are the subject of an unofficial builders' picket is calling on the Building and Allied Trades Union (Batu) to intervene to end the protests.
Collen Construction said its workers have been abused and intimidated and that two have been assaulted by demonstrators picketing its sites at UCD and Parnell Square.
The picketers are protesting against the jailing last week of three builders who refused to obey a High Court order to stop picketing another Collen site in Ballybrack, Dublin. The builders, Andrew Clarke, Cromlech Fields, Ballybrack; Keith Kelly, Ashlawn Park, Ballybrack; and William McClurg, Sallynoggin, claimed they were refused jobs because they are members of Batu.
A spokesman for Collen last night called on Batu to issue a public instruction to its members to stop picketing the sites to allow talks to begin through the Labour Relations Commission.
The protest has not been officially sanctioned by the union. However, a number of its members are involved, Collen said.
Up to 40 gardaí attended the protests at UCD yesterday and a female member of the force was injured while attempting to control the group of 60 to 70 picketers. However, gardaí said last night that no arrests were made.
Collen claims that one of its workers at UCD was punched by protesters on his way to lunch and an apprentice carpenter was threatened with a knife at Parnell Square. "There has been intimidation for the past week or more on our sites, but it seems to be becoming, in terms of general behaviour, more aggressive," the spokesman said.
Collen has "no official dispute with any trade union". He said it fully recognises trade unions and adheres to agreed terms and conditions. He denies that the jailed builders were refused jobs because of union membership and said they had originally "demanded jobs" on the grounds that they lived locally, but no positions were available.
Protesters' spokesman Richard Boyd Barrett said the demonstrations were peaceful. "The allegations made by Collen are a complete fabrication." Protests would continue until the injunction was lifted, he said.
A Batu spokesman said it would issue no instructions to members as there was no official dispute, but he said it was prepared to engage in talks with Collen.
