SIPTU members, working as cleaners, at Cabinteely Community School, Dublin, have today (10th, June) commenced the first in a series of work stoppages in a dispute over the proposed outsourcing of their work to a private contract cleaning company. SIPTU Organiser, Geoff McEvoy, said: “It is unacceptable for the management at Cabinteely Community School to put the jobs of their lowest paid members of staff in jeopardy in the middle of the State exams. The Department of Education can no longer stand over a state of affairs that sees these workers excluded from the protections of the public services agreements. In order to avoid any impact on students taking the state exams, our members have decided to not place pickets on the premises during these one day work stoppages.” He added: “This dispute did not happen overnight. Our members have attempted to resolve this many times over the last six months. SIPTU representatives met with the principal of Cabinteely Community School and advised that any attempt to outsource the work of our members would be met with strong resistance from our union. Management’s decision to ignore our members calls for fairness have led to this dispute. SIPTU representatives are demanding that the board of management immediately revises its original decision to outsource our members work. This will allow for the possibility of meaningful negotiations to take place. Until then, our members have no choice but to continue this industrial action.” SIPTU Public Administration and Community Divisional Organiser Adrian Kane said: “The greatest cause of precarious employment and ever increasing degrees of inequality in this country is outsourcing. The most effective way to combat inequality and precarious employment is by maintaining integrated employment models. SIPTU representatives will continue to fight against the scourge of outsourcing and to maintain secure employment for our members.”
SIPTU members begin a series of work stoppages at Cabinteely Community School
