Union chiefs expect up to 250,000 workers to strike today

November 24, 2009 by Infowars Ireland

www.irishtimes.com

UNION LEADERS expect up to 250,000 civil and public servants will take part in the national public service strike today.

Unions said last night that outside of the worst flood-affected areas – where members had been exempted from industrial action – they believed there would be a shutdown of public services around the county. However, emergency and essential services will be provided.

Chairman of the public service committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (Ictu) Peter McLoone acknowledged the strike would cause hardship to people who depended most on public services and that members regretted this deeply.

However, he said members believed the Government had forced them into a strike that nobody wanted or needed.

The nationwide strike in protest at Government plans to cut pay will result in the closure of all public offices and schools. Telephone services operated by Government departments, the Revenue Commissioners and the Passport Office will also be hit.

However, cover will be provided in areas such as Met Éireann and the Coast Guard, where otherwise there could be a threat to life.

Unions have also called off strike action involving local authority and health sector staff in counties Cork, Clare and Galway, which have been badly hit by the flooding crisis.

Over 16,000 hospital patients will have their appointments or procedures cancelled. However, emergency services will be provided in key areas. About 55,000 social welfare customers will have their weekly payment delayed by 24 hours.

Court sittings will be cancelled today except in emergency cases, while the Seanad will not sit and the operation of the Dáil will be curtailed.

Local authority public offices will be closed but minimum emergency and essential cover will be provided for fire and water services.

Pickets are also expected to be placed by the CPSU at the Irish Embassy in London as well as in Brussels. Last night senior HSE figures said a dispute had emerged with ambulance personnel in the northeast who were seeking payment for providing emergency cover.

A Siptu spokesman confirmed that some drivers who were members of the union as well as others who were not had sought payment. He said the union had informed them that in cases of strikes the practice was for staff to provide emergency cover on a voluntary basis. Read more…