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2009

Community workers campaign to save jobs in Dublin North-East tomorrow

Date Released: 26 Nov 2009

On Friday, November 27, SIPTU activists from the Dublin North East electoral area will hand over a petition with more than 1,000 signatures to Tommy Broughan TD as a part of the SIPTU Campaign ‘Equality for Community Employment Workers’. The sector is among those targeted for drastic cuts by the McCarthy Report.

Deputy Broughan is supporting Community Employment workers in their fight to be treated the same as public and private sector workers and retain their entitlement to lone parent and disability allowances where appropriate. He will present the petition to both the Taoiseach, Brian Cowen and Tánaiste, Mary Coughlan, in addition to raising the issue in the Daíl.

The petition will be presented to Deputy Broughan tomorrow Friday, November 27, at 11.45am at the Moatview/Fairfield CE Scheme, 52 Moatview Avenue, Dublin 17.


For more information, please contact:

Darragh O’Connor – SIPTU Lead Organiser 087 250 1730

John Cullen – CE Worker & SIPTU Activist 085 7372581


Background Note: Community Employment schemes support a wide range of community based services including childcare, elder care, drug rehabilitation, youth projects and recycling to name but a few. Real and vital services are provided at a low cost to the state.The McCarthy Report has proposed that Community Employment (CE) workers no longer be allowed to receive lone parents or disability allowance. This would be a disadvantage neither public sector nor private sector workers suffer, and clearly disregards the valuable work of CE workers. If implemented, this cut will have a major impact on workers, projects and communities. Many workers on these allowances will have to leave CE projects. This will lead to a staffing crisis, particularly for community childcare where up 70% of workers are in CE projects. It will also limit the opportunity for training and access to work for many people.SIPTU activist and CE worker, John Cullen, says that “lone parents who want to work and get trained will no longer have this opportunity if McCarthy’s proposals go ahead. This will mean more people on the dole and communities losing services, particularly in childcare”.




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