Planned CE  supervisors' picket of Limerick minister's office on hold as strike postponed

Community Employment (CE) supervisors have suspended five days of strike action, which was scheduled to commence on Monday.

The decision to suspend the industrial action follows an agreement with the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP) to enter into a talks process aimed at resolving a long-running pension dispute.

Union representatives have met directly with the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Regina Doherty twice in the last week on the issue.

At a meeting with the minister on Thursday, agreement was reached to establish a working group, which will include DEASP officials and union representatives, with input from the minister where necessary.

THE Newcastle West office of Minister of State Patrick O’Donovan was to be picketed every day next week when the strike of Community Employment (CE) supervisors and assistant supervisors was to get underway.

Other ministers , including Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe were also set to find strike protestors outside their offices each day from Monday on. 

The proposed strike by 1,250 supervisors and assistant supervisors, was in support of their demand to have a proper pension scheme put in place, in line with a Labour Court recommendation of 2008.

Last month, their unions, Siptu and Fórsa, called a protest outside the Dáil in a bid to get  Minister Donohoe to begin a meaningful discussion on the issue but no such discussion took place until Thursday.

“Supervisors and assistant supervisors are extremely angry with Fine Gael that they have not recognised the Labour Court agreement,” said Mike Hunt, a supervisor in Rathkeale and a member of Siptu.

“We are extremely angry that Minister Donohoe has made no effort or attempt to meet us. That action alone would have prevented the strike going ahead. He is ignoring the Labour Court.”

A meeting with Social Protection Minister Regina Doherty did take place but, according to Mr Hunt, “she made it very clear she was only there to listen” when the issue of the pension scheme was raised.

Over 30 supervisors and assistant supervisors across Limerick city and county were to be taking part in the strike. The industrial action would have affected a wide range of community, voluntary and other services wherever  CE schemes operate. It would likely have included Meals on Wheels, Elderly Care, Disability Groups, community halls, resource centres and sports facilities among others.

The campaign for a pension scheme has been ongoing since 2002, Mike Hunt explained to the Limerick Leader. The matter was brought before the Labour Court in 2008 which rstated that an agreed pension scheme should be introduced and adequately funded by the recognised funding agency. The unions involved, Siptu and Fórsa, say the responsibility for this lies with the government. 

Union members vehemently reject the government argument that it is not the employer and they also reject the government’s claim hat the sponsors of the schemes are responsbile for paying for a pension. 

Sponsors are in the main, voluntary and/or community and sporting organisations, union members have pointed out and would not be in any position to pay into a pension scheme.