Plumbers, pipefitters, welders, and apprentices representing the Unite trade union are staging a strike for a third time this month in connection with an ongoing dispute over travel allowances.
The 24-hour work stoppage began at midnight, with pickets placed at key construction sites in Dublin and Athlone where members of the Mechanical Engineering & Building Services Contractors’ Association (MEBSCA) are carrying out works.
The strike has affected major construction projects for companies like Pfizer, Diageo, and the ESB.
In addition to the picket lines in Ireland, Unite members are planning a protest in London as part of their broader campaign.
Previous work stoppages occurred on the last two Fridays, and Unite has pledged to continue striking until employers engage in meaningful negotiations. The union argues that its members’ concerns have been ignored by employers so far.
The workers are demanding the restoration of payment for the first hour of travel time, a benefit that Unite claims was temporarily cut after the 2008 financial crisis. The union asserts that this reduction should have been reversed as the economy improved.
Unite has indicated that unless employers address these demands, the strike action will persist, further disrupting significant construction projects in Ireland.