SIPTU has condemned the actions of Neart Le Chéile after its board refused to meet or communicate with workers facing redundancy. Six workers from the Clondalkin-based support centre's drugs and alcohol intervention programme were put on protective notice in July after more than twenty years of service. The move follows funding cuts from the Drugs Task Force and Health Service Executive (HSE), but Neart Le Chéile has declined to clarify the workers' position and its representatives also failed to turn up to a recently scheduled meeting. The longest-serving workers are entitled to eight weeks of redundancy notice under minimum notice legislation but, with funding running out on 31st December, no notice has yet been issued. Karen Smollen, SIPTU Organiser, said: "There has been no communication whatsoever with these workers since the protective notice was issued. "After twenty years of service and commitment to some of the most vulnerable people in our society, the workers are devastated at the disrespect that they have been shown. "For people who have given so much to be kept in the dark over their livelihoods is simply disgraceful. SIPTU calls on the board of Neart Le Chéile to immediately sit down with these workers to clarify both the future of the programme and their jobs. "Neart Le Chéile's drug and alcohol intervention programme supports drug users, those in recovery and their families in one of Dublin's most deprived areas.
SIPTU slams Neart Le Chéile "disrespect" after failure to meet workers
