SIPTU representatives at the union’s Biennial Delegate Conference in Cork have today (Wednesday, 4th October) called on the Government to increase funding to Community and Not For Profit organisations in order to ensure workers in these sectors benefit from the wider recovery. SIPTU representatives at the union’s Biennial Delegate Conference in Cork have today (Wednesday, 4th October) called on the Government to increase funding to Community and Not For Profit organisations in order to ensure workers in these sectors benefit from the wider recovery. Addressing the conference in Cork City Hall, incoming SIPTU Deputy General Secretary for the Public Sector, John King, said: “Workers in the Community and Not For Profit Sectors do not enjoy the protections of the Public Service Agreements. However, although not having the same benefits these workers have had to accept the imposition of pay cuts by government and other measures similar to those endured by their colleagues in the Public Sector. “Community and Not for Profit Sector workers have been left out of the recovery agenda by the Government. Some have faced redundancy and others have seen their services privatised to the ‘for profit’ sector. Most, if not all, have received no pay increases or pay restoration and haveendured funding cuts for their organisations. SIPTU is calling on the Minister for Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, Paschal Donohoe,to immediately address this unacceptable situation.” He added: “Our members in these sectors will no longer tolerate the situation in which they have been placed. SIPTU will support them in their battles and campaigns to achieve justice including, where required, taking industrial and strike action.” SIPTU Community Sector President, Donnie O’Leary, used his address to the conference to call for support for workers at Brookfield Youth and Community Centre in Tallaght, county Dublin, who have occupied the facility since last Friday (29th September). O’Leary said as an interim measure South Dublin County Council and State agencies who fund programmes in the centre must intervene in the dispute to maintain the facility’s operation until a new board of management is put in place.
SIPTU calls for Government to ensure recovery extends to Community Sector
