SIPTU supports protest by cleaners at St Cronan’s National School in Swords

Contract Cleaners are staging a protest to highlight the loss of their jobs outside St Cronan’s Senior National School, Brackenstown, in Swords, County Dublin, tomorrow (Thursday, 31st August) at 8.30 a.m. SIPTU Organiser, Paul Hansard, said: “These SIPTU members were employed directly by the school for many years prior to a management decision last November to outsource the cleaning function to a contracted company.“Ailesbury Services was the company initially contracted to provide cleaning services for the school. This company contracted our members to carry out the work. However, a new cleaning contractor, AFM Ireland Ltd, engaged by the school management to provide cleaning services has refused to transfer our members’ employment.  “The workers have been informed by AFM Ireland Ltd that it will not employ them and the board of management of the school has absolved itself of all responsibility to these loyal workers.”   He added: “For many years the five workers involved in this dispute ensured that the school was clean for pupils and teachers. These workers have between them over 63 years of service. SIPTU will be supporting their protest tomorrow and calling on all the parties involved to engage in discussions in order to ensure these workers are treated fairly and reinstated to their jobs immediately.”