More than half the lifts in the Ballymun flats complex in Dublin are out of order because of industrial action at the company which services them. Similar breakdowns in lift and escalator services can be expected from this week as a result of a pay dispute involving engineers at eight companies.
In an advertisement in newspapers yesterday, eight firms - C.J. Boyle and Co, Ennis Lifts, Industrial Logistics, Irish Lift Services, Mid Western Lift Services, Otis, Schindler Ireland and Pickering Lifts - warned that a strike beginning immediately would cause "major inconveniences and hardship".
It said the companies were endeavouring to provide an emergency service during the dispute. "Should you find you have such an emergency - in a hospital, nursing home or where trapped passengers need to be released - contact your lift company in the normal way," it added.
A dispute at one of the companies concerned, Pickering Lifts of Clonsilla, which began on June 30th, has already seriously reduced the number of lifts in operation in the Ballymun flats.
Mr Gerry O'Donoghue of Dublin Corporation said that of a total of 73 lifts, 48 were now out of order and the situation was worsening. He said at least one of the two lifts in each 15-storey tower block was being maintained by Pickering, which was providing an emergency service.
As a result, each resident of these blocks has to climb one flight of stairs at most to reach their flat. However some of the eight-storey tower blocks have been left with no lift service, he said.
Mr O'Donoghue said there had been some complaints but "not a huge number" because residents had been made aware of the situation. "It is causing some hardship . . . we hope there is an early resolution to the dispute and we can get the lifts back in service".
It is understood the dispute affecting Ballymun is related to the wider strike announced yesterday. However, Pickering Lifts declined to clarify this or make any comment.
The eight companies involved in the wider dispute said the employers had done all in their power to prevent the strike, including acceptance of a Labour Court recommendation. But they claimed the union involved, the TEEU, had rejected this and was pursuing a pay increase of more than 35 per cent.
The TEEU official dealing with the issue could not be contacted for comment.
