Former Dell staff to protest over EU training fund
FORMER Dell employees are to stage a huge protest in Michael Street tomorrow morning over discrepancies in the European Globalisation Fund.
Hundreds of staff who used to work at Dell in Raheen are expected to turn up to the demonstration, which will take place from 10am outside the Granary, where the dedicated European Globalisation Fund FAS office is located.
There was anger two weeks ago after it emerged ex-Dell workers using their share of the continental funding to go to private colleges could have their unemployment benefits slashed.
And this anger has been compounded by a number of other issues, according to the Dell Redundant Workers Association, who are in the process of notifying their 1,200 members of the demonstration, to get under way at 10am.
Speaking to the Limerick Leader, vice chairman of the group Gerry Hinchey said they were hoping to fill Michael Street.
"I hope it lights a fire under the government. This is about the way FAS is misleading people. They are telling people they are not entitled to things. One girl came into see us, and was told if she does courses through the fund, she won't be funded until the end of the course.
"She must do the course first, but only get the fund at the end of the course - however, if she failed, she would not get funding. That's completely contradictory to the criteria of the fund. This is just one instance. We are getting stories every day on misleading information," he explained. On Friday, Labour leader Eamon Gilmore, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan and MEP Alan Kelly met with Dell representatives in Griffith College.
Mr Kelly, who has lobbied the government on behalf of the workers group, said: "The proper administration is not in place, its absolutely all over the place."
Meanwhile, Deputy Gilmore said he would be raising the issue of social welfare in Dail - and was critical of the governmental response to the jobs crisis.
"Not enough fight has been put up, or is being put up. Dell is a case in point. The social welfare system and the retraining system does not match up the needs of our new circumstances.
"We are in times when people are looking for assistance not to stay on social welfare, but to move back into employment. We will concentrate on getting the social welfare problem unblocked," Deputy Gilmore vowed. For more information on the protest, contact Gerry Hinchey on 085-7230644.
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Tuesday 22 May 2012
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