Vol. 573 No. 3
183 Mr. Morgan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if her attention has been drawn to the fact that 300 SIPTU members have commenced a series of rolling one day strikes at a factory (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if her Department will intervene in this dispute to ensure that no more jobs are lost or threatened in the Inishowen Peninsula. [25092/03]
I am aware that approximately 75% of the staff at the factory concerned conducted a one day strike recently. For the previous four months, a ban on overtime had been in operation. I understand that a two-day strike to be held next week has been notified to the company, with the possibility of a subsequent escalation of the dispute. The dispute centres on the introduction of changes in work practices, notably overtime pay and shift-swapping.
It would not be appropriate for me to intervene in this dispute. Instead, the parties should utilise the expert services of the State's dispute settling machinery. The experience and expertise of these services are available free of charge to disputing parties and offer them the best avenue for resolving their differences. Where the parties make full use of these procedures the evidence shows that a very high percentage of disputes are resolved through the conciliation process. However, it is ultimately the responsibility of the parties concerned to ensure that agreement is reached.
