SIPTU members began strike action at Roadstone Woods Ltd facilities across the country on Monday in a dispute concerning an attempt by management to implement major cuts to workers' wages.

Roadstone Woods is one of the leading manufacturers and suppliers of building materials in Ireland.

The strike action began at 12.00 a.m. on Monday, with pickets placed on approximately 20 locations and will continue until a fair resolution of the dispute is achieved.

SIPTU Organiser, Davy Lane, said: "Over the last number of months both SIPTU and the TEEU have engaged in negotiations with the management of Roadstone Woods Ltd in relation to cost reductions. Management wish to reduce the payroll cost by €10 million over the next five years and follows a cut of €6 million in payroll costs in 2012. Due to the unrealistic demands of management these talks broke down at the weekend.

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"The Board of Cement Roadstone Holdings are setting cost reduction targets for its companies, which are inflicting financial hardship on workers, while at the same time the company's directors are accumulating massive bonuses as was reported at its AGM earlier this year.

"The pay cut which is currently being proposed by management would take €20,000 from the lowest paid workers over the next five years. Our members could not sustain such a loss against a background of the increasing costs of indirect taxation, hence their decision to embark on strike action."

(CD/JP)