SIPTU members in Resources Facilities Services Ltd, a contract cleaning company, are to take three further days of action at Beaumont Hospital in a dispute resulting from the company decision to implement a cut to workers pay without agreement. SIPTU Organiser, Ed Kenny, said: “Resources Facilities Services Ltd is contracted to provide cleaning services at Beaumont Hospital. On the 10th November, the company unilaterally implemented a cut to its employees' Sunday premium pay without agreement. “In response, workers voted to take industrial action. Two one-hour work stoppages were conducted on Monday, 16th December, to highlight the unacceptable nature of the cut to their pay. Unfortunately, the management of Resources Facilities Services Ltd is refusing to restore the workers Sunday premium. This intransigence has left them with no option but to escalate the dispute.”Further work stoppages are scheduled for Monday, 6th January, from 9.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. and 5.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m.; on Wednesday, 8th January, from 9.00 a.m. to 12.00 p.m. and 5.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.; and on Friday, 10th January for a full working day from 9.00 a.m. to 11.00 p.m.Resources Facilities Services Ltd employee and SIPTU Shop Steward, Chris Donnelly, said: “We are low paid workers and have minimum conditions of employment. The company has left us with no alternative but to conduct industrial action in relation to this cut in pay.”He added: “Since 2010, we have co-operated on three occasions with the company in delivering significant savings and changes to our work practices. These changes have resulted in significant reductions to our earnings and the unilateral cut to our Sunday premium is just a step to far.”Ed Kenny added: “This dispute could be resolved immediately if the company restored the Sunday premium in full and showed a willingness to enter into meaningful discussions with our members.”SIPTU has 90 members employed by Resources Facilities Services Ltd in Beaumont Hospital. During the work stoppages the workers will conduct official SIPTU pickets at the entrances to the hospital.
Cleaners at Beaumont Hospital to escalate dispute
