Three SIPTU members, who worked as school cleaners, have reached an agreement which ends a dispute over the loss of their jobs at St Cronan’s Senior National School, Brackenstown, in Swords, County Dublin. The dispute was settled following negotiations between their union representatives, the school board of management and the school’s patron, the Archdiocese of Dublin. Cleaner, Lorraine Reilly, who had worked at St Cronan’s Senior National School for 18 years, said: “We protested because after many years of loyal service to the school our jobs were given to a cleaning company which refused to take us on. The protests received widespread support from the local community, elected representatives and trade unionists.”She added: “The agreement that ended this dispute was only possible because we were organised in SIPTU. The message is clear to all cleaners. You need to join your union and SIPTU is the union for contract cleaners.” SIPTU Sector Organiser, Diane Jackson, said: “The cleaners protested every morning and lunchtime outside the school from 31st August to 13th September in order to highlight that a new contract cleaning company at the school had refused to maintain their employment. The agreement which resulted in the ending of the dispute has been welcomed by all sides. Our members wish to thank everyone who supported their campaign which laid the basis for a solution being found.”
St Cronan’s Senior National School cleaners reach agreement that ends dispute
