SIPTU members have agreed to attend further talks at the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) to try to resolve a dispute affecting security members employed by G4S Secure Solutions Limited at South Dublin County Council (SDCC) sites. The dispute centres on the failure of the incoming contractor, Top Security Ltd., to apply the European Communities (Protection of Employees on Transfer of Undertakings) Regulations 2003 (TUPE) and to employ staff from G4S Secure Solutions on existing terms and conditions.The SIPTU members employed on a contract to supply security services to SDCC had served strike notice on their employer in a dispute concerning transfer of undertakings regulations due to begin on Tuesday, 17th February, but deferred the action after an invitation from the LRC. Three of the four parties attended a meeting facilitated by the Commission on Friday, 20th February.According to SIPTU Organiser, Peadar Nolan, there was no resolution of the issues but the parties which did attend agreed to a further meeting on Thursday (26th February). However, Top Security Ltd. did not send any representatives to the LRC discussions.“We were very disappointed at the non-attendance of the proposed incoming contractor, Top Security Ltd. as they have a crucial role to play in the talks. We have urged the Council to use its influence as the client to insist that Top Security attends the LRC,” Peadar Nolan said.“If representatives of Top Security fail to attend at the LRC on Thursday and the dispute is not resolved, strike action will commence at 7.00 a.m. on Tuesday, 3rd March. While we are committed to talks to resolve the issue our members will be ready to take action should these talks fail. Essentially, if this is not resolved these members will be made compulsorily redundant by Wednesday, 4th March, which is a totally unacceptable situation.”
SIPTU security officers at SDCC defer strike pending further talks at the LRC
