Protesters occupy their Dublin union offices

A high court judge yesterday waded into the dispute, issuing an injunction ordering the union members to vacate the premises and dismantle a brick wall they had erected across the entrance.

The members and their supporters have been locked in an ongoing dispute with union management over the sacking of two union employees, and attacks on the pay and working conditions for union office staff. They are demanding the resignation of the union boss, Paddy O'Shaughnessy, who states that there is 'no question' of him leaving. Additionally, they demand that union finances are publicly audited.

The dispute started in May after the two officials were laid off without proper explanation. The former union employees are also members of the Unite union, and begun an official picket of the union offices in north Dublin. This has been consistently crossed by BATU officials, with O'Shaughnessy driving into picketers, and according to the socialistworld website, shouting “I see you’re swapping the red flag for the union jack, now” at the workers - a reference to Unite being based in Britain.

O'Shaughnessy is a member of the Executive of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, which has refused to hear complaints that the crossing of picket lines is bringing the organisation into disrepute. It also stated that as an internal dispute between employers and employees, it is not of its concern. In response, the builders have escalated their campaign through direct action, with around a dozen occupants in the offices at any one time.