The first three weeks in August are usually set aside as part of the collective annual leave for those working within the construction sector.
However, as the sector was forced to shut down for weeks during the health crisis, building firms had suggested the usual summer break be moved or cancelled entirely to make up for the earlier closures.
The unions rejected this suggestion, as well as refusing to consider options such as reducing the summer break by a week, or carrying it over into the next year.
As neither party has been able to reach an accord, the summer break will go ahead as planned in 2020.
