Dismissal at centre of strike at lift firm

The company which services the lifts in the Ballymun flats in Dublin says it is continuing to provide a service to clients despite…

The company which services the lifts in the Ballymun flats in Dublin says it is continuing to provide a service to clients despite a two-week-old strike.

Engineers employed by Pickerings Lifts have been on strike since November 12th over what they claim is the company's failure to adhere to agreed procedures before it dismissed an employee.

Pickerings denies this and says it followed fair dismissal practices which were "entirely in line with all statutory codes and with due process".

The union representing the strikers, the TEEU, said at the weekend the dispute had worsened following the withdrawal of mobile phones from a number of those on strike.

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As a result, it said, its ability to provide an emergency service in Ballymun had been undermined, while a number of hospitals would also be affected.

In a statement, however, the company said arrangements had been made to ensure a full service was available to all its clients.

It accused the union of authorising and supporting unlawful picketing of premises and sites of Pickerings Lifts, and said it was currently seeking legal advice in relation to this.

Mr Arthur Hall, the union's eastern regional secretary, said the threat of legal action had "made things worse" and the company should instead seek to return to the Labour Relations Commission for talks.

Previous talks at the LRC failed to resolve the dispute.

The company said it had made itself available for talks at all times.

Thirty lifts engineers are taking part in the strike.

Chris Dooley

Chris Dooley

Chris Dooley is Foreign Editor of The Irish Times