Dispute at Ballymun lifts company worsens

A dispute at the company which services the lifts at the Ballymun flat complex in Dublin and a number of hospitals worsened over…

A dispute at the company which services the lifts at the Ballymun flat complex in Dublin and a number of hospitals worsened over the weekend.

Members of the TEEU union have been on strike at Pickerings Lifts for the past fortnight over the dismissal of a colleague.

Arrangements had been in place to ensure a service was maintained for the Ballymun residents, who suffered serious inconvenience during a previous strike at the same company.

The hospitals affected are St James' and Baggot St in Dublin, Louth county hospital in Dundalk and St Lukes in Kilkenny and Cavan general.

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The Cheshire nursing home in Shillelagh, Co Wicklow, many of whose patients are in wheelchairs, is also affected.

The union claimed yesterday, however, that the company had withdrawn mobile phone services from strikers who had been providing free emergency cover to the five hospitals and the nursing home.

It had also reduced services to one designated mobile phone for the Ballymun flats complex, which was normally serviced by six staff, the union said.

Mr Arthur Hall, the union's eastern regional secretary, said as a result the union could no longer provide an emergency service at the hospitals and the nursing home.

The company could not be contacted for comment yesterday. It has previously denied the TEEU's claim that it did not follow agreed procedures before dismissing the worker at the centre of the dispute.

Chris Dooley

Chris Dooley

Chris Dooley is Foreign Editor of The Irish Times