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A new rash of militant site activity may be on the cards following a row over tea breaks on a north London housing development.

At the heart of the dispute at Essex Road in Islington is Richard Dooley, a member of the Transport & General Workers Union, who is claiming that he was unfairly dismissed by brickwork specialist Lyons and Annett after complaining about the regular 30 minute tea break being cut to 20 minutes.

Dooley and another worker, Paul Crimmins, were sacked last week and staged a protest outside the site where the main contractor is Grove World.

Dooley said: "This may lead to a revival of London's grass roots Joint Sites Committee. We have no quarrel with those firms who are just and fair. But we have got to keep a check on the tyrants and money grabbers. The message is - it's going to cost you."

Brickwork contractor Maurice Lyons replied: "During the winter, when the industry was very hard hit by recession, we decided we had to do all we could to reduce down time. We discussed the situation with the lads and they agreed to a 20 minute tea break. It was perfectly acceptable to them. When Dooley started on site, on his first morning he refused to leave the canteen. He demanded a 30 minute break. It was his attitude that led to his dismissal. I am not going to be dictated to by people who try to stir up hatred." Storm in a tea break