Siptu Solidarity Stops Dept of Environment in its tracks.

Pickets close Department of Environment for business to defend cleaning contract jobs.

This morning Sitptu held a mass picket in solidarity and support of 10 Siptu members who have been on strike since 1st July having been sacked from their contract cleaning jobs.

Strikers and supporters began picketing at 7am at six entrances of the Customs House which houses the Department of Environment of which John Gormley is Minister.

Staff began arriving after 8.30 to closed gates and picket lines. Upto eleven cars parked on the cycle lanes at the front waiting to get in while most civil servants waited at the bottom of Liberty Hall.

The pickets were well attended by Siptu officials with an official from the NUJ joining in and members of Equity including Brian Murray, a member of the Executive of Equity distributed leaflets.

At ten O'Clock the solidarity pickets finished leaving the striking cleaners to continue. Yesterday the Contracter Schorman failed to show up to the LRC for the second time in an attempt to resolve the strike.

Siptu did not rule out the possibility of further action.

Images (c) Paula Geraghty

Pickets at different gates from 7 am

Bringing in tea and coffee supplies to the picket line

The view of one of the pickets from the top of liberty Hall

Civil servants waiting at liberty hall

The Principal Officer from the Department in foreground trying to negotiate a way round