TEEU staff vote for strike action

Some 5,000 craftworkers in local authorities and the health service are the latest group in the public service to back the one…

Some 5,000 craftworkers in local authorities and the health service are the latest group in the public service to back the one-day stoppage planned for next Tuesday.

The staff involved are responsible for care and maintenance facilities.

The TEEU’s Finbarr Maguire, who is acting secretary of the local authority and health service craftworkers group of unions, said it was clear there was an overwhelming mandate from members to enter into a campaign of industrial action.

He said the action would serve as a defence against unjustified levies and an opposition to proposed further pay cuts.

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"The unions have advised the employers that they will make themselves available to discuss appropriate levels of emergency cover as set down in the 'Voluntary Code of Practice on Dispute Procedures for the Maintenance of Essential Services", he said.

Mr Maguire said that the Government now needed to look to other sectors than PAYE workers to contribute to the correction of public finances.

"Further cuts in pay, job numbers and services will only hit low and middle income earners, while the high income groups who did best out of the boom continue to remain insulated from the effects of the downturn,” he said.

Meanwhile, the country's largest trade union Siptu has said its members in the public service had voted strongly in support of the strike action next week.

It said 85.6 per cent of members in the health service, 78.4 per cent of those in local authorities and 91.6 per cent of members in the fire service backed the day of action.

Siptu said 79 per cent of members working in third-level education voted in favour of strike action while in Government departments, support for the strike ran at 77.4 per cent.

Martin Wall

Martin Wall

Martin Wall is the Public Policy Correspondent of The Irish Times.