Скачать или смотреть National Advocacy Service left with no option but to pursue industrial action

SIPTU members employed in the National Advocacy Service have accused the Government of hypocrisy for its failure to honour a Labour Court recommendation on their pay and conditions while calling on both sides in the Aer Lingus dispute to accept the decision of the State’s pre-eminent industrial relations body.

SIPTU Deputy General Secretary, John King, said: “Our members in the National Advocacy Service recommenced their indefinite strike action following the failure of their management and the Department of Social Protection to live up to a commitment that they would honour a Labour Court recommendation secured in January.”

He added: “The Government must stop talking out of both sides of its mouth in relation to industrial relations. On one hand, several Ministers have called on both sides in the Aer Lingus dispute to honour a Labour Court recommendation while at the same time, government officials are refusing to do the same for a group of workers who provide vital services to people with disabilities.”

SIPTU Sector Organiser, Brendan Carr, said: “Our members in the community sector protested outside the Dáil today, to call on the Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphries, to work to resolve this dispute. This follows a disinformation campaign by her Department where they have sought to present the breakdown in talks in this dispute as the fault of our members and are now referencing a benchmarking process which has nothing to do with this Labour Court recommendation.

“Our members paused their industrial action on 12th June following a written commitment from management that the Labour Court recommendation would be honoured. After several days of talks between SIPTU representatives, National Advocacy Service management, the Citizens Information Board and Department of Social Protection officials, the funders of the organisation, it became clear that the commitment to implement fully the necessary changes in pay and conditions was being reneged on.”

He added: “These workers carry out vital and confidential work with some of those most at risk, providing in-person advocacy interventions in areas including housing, access to justice, health care, safeguarding and decision-making support. It is appalling the manner in which they are being treated by the Government.”

As part of the strike action pickets have been placed outside National Advocacy Service offices in Dublin 7, Tallaght, Bray, County Wicklow, Athlone, County Westmeath, Tullamore, County Offaly, Limerick City, County Roscommon, Waterford City, Cork City, County Louth and Kilkenny.