SIPTU members in Cork County Council have voted by three to one in favour of strike action in a dispute resulting from the refusal of management to engage with the workforce planning process and recruit more staff to adequately delivery statutory services. In the ballot, counted today (Friday, 17th February) in Connolly Hall in Cork, the SIPTU members also voted by more than four to one in favour of industrial action. SIPTU Organiser, Con Casey, said: “There was a massive turnout for this ballot which has resulted in an overwhelming vote in favour of action in this long-running dispute. Over many months there has been no progress at all in management moving to engage with the workforce planning process and start employing more staff. “This has resulted in a situation where key sections of the council which deal with road maintenance and other essential services are now seriously undermanned. This is due to management failing to replace workers as they retire. The running down of the ability of the council to adequately provide services would unfortunately seem to be part of an agenda to increase the outsourcing of work to private for profit companies.” He added: “This move towards outsourcing by Cork County Council management is being pursued in contravention to national agreements. These agreements assert that the high standards of council services should be preserved by maintaining their delivery by directly employed council staff.”
SIPTU members in Cork County Council vote for strike action
