SIPTU members have served notice of industrial action on the management of St Joseph’s National School, Bonnybrook, in Dublin. The move follows a unanimous vote by cleaning staff at the school to take industrial action, up to and including strike action, due to management's refusal to negotiate with representatives of their union.SIPTU Education Sector Organiser, Louise O'Reilly, said: “The Union first wrote to the principal of St. Joseph's National School in December 2012, seeking a meeting to discuss issues of concern for our members. We have subsequently written several letters to both the principal and the chairperson of the school’s Board of Management. None of these letters requesting a meeting, nor follow up phone calls, have even been acknowledged.”She added: “The matter has been referred to the Labour Relations Commission but management at the school has consistently refused to engage with this body. “The principal and the chairperson of the Board of Management are charged with the responsibility of spending tax payers' money yet they are refusing to engage with the State’s own industrial relations bodies. It is extremely regrettable that this matter could not be resolved amicably but the refusal by management to engage with us has left our members with no option but to take industrial action.”SIPTU members in St. Joseph's National School will decide the timing and exact nature of their industrial action and it is expected that pickets will be placed on the entrance to the school to coincide with the start of the new school term in September.
SIPTU serves notice of industrial action at Joseph’s National School in Dublin
