An all-out strike involving 400 Galway County Council workers resulted in the jobs of 15 workers being saved.
Workers began picketing the council headquarters at Prospect Hill after a group of outdoor workers were suspended for refusing to work with private contractors.
This dispute comes following another over job cuts in May which was referred to the Labour Court for a full hearing. Following a budget cut of €10 million for its roads programme, the council said it had no choice but to cut about 100 temporary and contract staff.
Following a round of intensive late night talks between SIPTU and local management it was agreed that workers would be reinstated without loss of pay. SIPTU is now asking the Labour Court for an early hearing to try to resolve issues surrounding job cuts and reductions in employee allowances.
SIPTU branch secretary Michael Kilcoyne said it had also been agreed that a six-person committee be set up to discuss any future arrangements for the use of private contractors in the county. The committee will consist of three members nominated by the council and three by the union.
