SIPTU members employed at Killarney Golf Club, Co. Kerry, have expressed anger at management attempts to ignore an independent assessor’s report and impose redundancies and cutbacks on staff. SIPTU Sector Organiser, Dennis Hynes, said: “The management of Killarney Golf Club has shown complete intransigence in relation to changes in the operation of the business. Workers are particularly angered that such an approach is being shown by a business whose majority shareholder is the State agency, Fáilte Ireland.”“Workers have already agreed to a 5% wage cut and are willing to enter into talks with management on other changes. However, these talks must be based on reality rather than the claims that are being made by management in relation to the financial situation of the club."Last year, the union referred the dispute at the Killarney Golf Club to the Labour Relations Commission. This year the matter was referred onto the Labour Court. As part of the Labour Relations Commission process the union engaged an independent assessor to evaluate the club’s financial position.Dennis Hynes said: “The assessor’s report indicated that management had greatly exaggerated the financial difficulties of the club. The report concluded that a degree of restructuring and some job losses were necessary to ensure the business’s profitability rather than the 35% pay cut and enforced redundancy of the majority of staff which is being sought by management.”Management is seeking 24 redundancies out of a staff of 40. A Labour Court judgment on the dispute is expected in the coming weeks.
SIPTU members angered at treatment by Killarney Golf Club
