Almost 400 staff at Galway County Council have gone on strike following the laying off of 15 staff. A meeting between Galway County Council and SIPTU failed to garner a breakthrough yesterday morning, with staff said to be resolved to continue with their strike action until the 15 staff are re-instated.

Pickets were placed at the Galway County Council headquarters and on all council area offices after the workers were removed from the payroll on Monday for "failure to undertake work assigned to them".

Director of Services, Corporate and Cultural Affairs in the council, Kevin Kelly claimed that the "non co-operation" of staff members with "external contractors, external materials and non-use of mobile phones by outside workers" has resulted in the 15 employees being removed from the payroll.

"Originally this dispute began when we were forced to lay off some temporary staff because of funding cuts. However, the removal of overtime allowances has also proved a problem," he said.

Speaking following a meeting with council management yesterday, Galway SIPTU branch secretary Michael Kilcoyne said the sides had made no progress.

"We were back out the door after half an hour. The council went ahead of the 29 July Labour Court meeting and laid off the workers. They have no grounds do this. There is a correct method to work to and they deviated from that.

"This is not about non-compliance. It is to do with allowance cuts and the lay-off of staff. We have no problem commencing work once the workers are put back on the payroll," he said.

As of yesterday no work was completed in the county on road maintenance or in the water and sewage treatment plants.

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