Electricians at St James’ Hospital Dublin are staging a one-day stoppage as a dispute over outsourcing work escalates.

Members of the Technical Engineering and Electrical Union (TEEU) will walk off the job the hospital after no agreement was reached at the Labour Relations Commission (LRC).

Union leaders confirmed emergency life and limb cover will be provided during the industrial action, but warned the technical services department will be affected.

This is the third stoppage by members at the hospital since the beginning of the month.

On 10 August, talks over outsourcing the work of electricians in the Technical Engineering and Electrical Union adjourned after three hours with no significant progress made.

The dispute is over management moves to reduce the role of electricians on site. Outside contractors have been brought in without prior agreement with the TEEU under agreed procedures. The union is concerned about health and safety, as well as job security issues resulting from the contracting out of services.

Other craft workers at the hospital, including members of Unite and UCATT, have refused to pass the pickets, leading to the effective closure of the Technical Services Department at St James’s hospital during the stoppages.