Latest news with #Siptu
Irish Times
7 hours ago
- Irish Times
Sacked Irish Rail worker who said he defied orders in bid to avert crane accident fails to win job back
An Irish Rail worker who defied orders and took control of a crane when he saw that its load had became unstable – only for the load to trap another worker's foot when he set it down – has won €12,000 for unfair dismissal. His trade union had told the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) that the worker, Liam Óg Lynch, should get his job back after acting with 'great leadership and bravery' to try to bring a dangerous situation under control in March 2023. However, in a decision published on Wednesday , Mr Lynch has been denied the order for reinstatement he had sought in a complaint under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 against Iarnród Éireann. Mr Lynch, an Irish Rail employee since 2021, worked at a plant producing pre-stressed concrete sleepers for use in works on the Cork main line, the WRC heard. READ MORE Irish Rail employment relations manager Laura Devoy told the tribunal that on March 8th, 2023, an employee of a contractor had been injured by a gantry crane which Mr Lynch had 'knowingly operated without permission'. A manager had previously identified 'safety-critical issues' with Mr Lynch's work at a meeting in November 2022, she said. The worker was instructed in February 2023 not to operate the gantry crane at the centre of the incident until further notice, Ms Devoy told the tribunal. Mr Lynch's trade union representative, Andrea Cleere of the Siptu Workers' Rights Centre, told the tribunal that the work crew was short-handed on March 8th, 2023 as her client had been asked to stand in for an absent senior chargehand. Ms Cleere said her client 'sought the assistance of an experienced operator but was refused', with a contract worker instead taking charge of the crane. 'Mr Lynch raised concerns regarding the machine operating experience of the contractor, but these fell on deaf ears,' Ms Cleere said. She submitted that with the contract machine operator running the gantry crane it 'became apparent that the load had not been properly secured'. 'Given that the only qualified operator who could work the machine was operating an unsafe load, Liam Óg Lynch, in his role as chargehand, took over the operation of the machine,' the trade union rep said. Mr Lynch decided it was 'not viable to secure the load due to the surroundings' and decided to 'land the gantry load as best he could in the circumstances'. 'Landing the machine was the securest option, given the proximity of the load to the ground,' Ms Cleere submitted. 'Unfortunately, an injury occurred whereby the foot of another contractor machine operator became trapped under one of the beams from the load due to the machine collapsing due to a fault occurring while the load was being grounded,' Ms Cleere continued. Because of the fault, her client could not raise the gantry again, she said. 'In an act of leadership and great bravery, he got a crowbar and lifted the beam with all his strength to rescue the foot of the contractor machine operator,' Ms Cleere submitted. She added that when the Portlaoise depot supervisor got to the scene he 'reprimanded Mr Lynch as his first course of action without tending to the injured party on the ground'. Mr Lynch's position was that he was placed in an 'impossible position' that day and that he only did what he did 'to minimise and control an already dangerous situation' and to avert further property damage and injury. A company investigation and disciplinary process concluded that Mr Lynch's actions in taking control of the crane against his line manager's prior instructions amounted to a 'reckless violation'. However, Siptu argued the circumstances surrounding Mr Lynch's actions 'were not properly investigated', leading to a 'fundamentally unfair' process. A view was expressed by Mr Lynch during the investigation that the equipment was 'faulty', the tribunal heard. However, Ms Devoy said: 'This wasn't proven, and doesn't excuse the use of the equipment in the first place.' Ms Cleere countered that there was 'no evidence of this being investigated'. The outcome of the disciplinary process was a final written warning for Mr Lynch. However, a senior manager decided to invoke a provision of the Irish Rail disciplinary processes allowing for the termination of an employee on a 'temporary contract' on foot of a written sanction, the tribunal was told. Mr Lynch told adjudication officer Brian Dolan that he would have accepted the final written warning and 'worked to restore his standing' with Irish Rail if he had not been dismissed. In his decision on the case, Mr Dolan wrote that the circumstances surrounding Mr Lynch's actions 'should have been investigated', as they were 'material' to the allegations against him. At minimum, the company would be expected to interview other workers and put their statements to Mr Lynch, he wrote. Instead, it seemed to him that Irish Rail 'simply formed the view that [Mr Lynch] operated the machine in contravention of an express direction not to do so', he wrote. He said it had been an 'extraordinary decision' to increase the sanction from final written warning to dismissal, leaving Mr Lynch without 'any right of response' to the finding against him and no opportunity to fight for his job. He called the dismissal 'both substantially and procedurally unfair'. However, on the question of reinstatement, Mr Dolan accepted the national rail operator's concerns about Mr Lynch's safety record were 'not entirely unfounded', while Mr Lynch had also started a course in an 'entirely unrelated field'. He concluded that the parties had 'moved on' and that it would be 'impractical' to force them back into an employment relationship. He decided compensation was the right form of redress and awarded Mr Lynch €12,000.
Irish Independent
7 days ago
- Health
- Irish Independent
Majority of health staff will have to work weekends under new roster deal to reduce trolley crisis
A HSE spokesperson said it was 'confident' this was the case when asked what proportion of workers are obliged to work a five over seven-day week. The agreement means staff who joined or were promoted after December 16, 2008, can be asked to work new rosters that include extended hours or weekend working. Those who joined before this date have no liability to change their working arrangements unless they want to on a voluntary basis. The HSE expects the agreement to significantly improve services. The fact that staff will be entitled to premium pay is seen as a 'carrot' to attract volunteers. The spokesperson said staff will be asked to volunteer first to work the new arrangements. Agreement was reached after weeks of intense negotiations on 'principles' 'To deliver a quick and effective response, staff will be asked to volunteer in the first instance. If not enough staff volunteer, eligible staff will be identified,' he said. 'We are confident that the majority of staff have a contractual obligation to work an extended working day/week basis.' The spokesperson said plans are being devised to introduce extended working arrangements in the 'areas with most need'. 'These requirements will vary from site to site,' he said. In a message to members, Siptu said the extended services initiative is expected to be rolled out in the coming months. It said agreement with the HSE, Department of Health and health unions was reached after weeks of intense negotiations on 'principles' for extended services. The union said the agreement aims to enhance patient access to services by extending opening hours. It said unions secured key protections for its members. These include provisions to protect staff welfare, ensure safe working conditions and provide fair compensation for those participating in extended rosters. Siptu health divisional organiser Kevin Figgis said: 'The agreement marks a significant step forward in reshaping Ireland's healthcare services while balancing the needs of patients and staff. 'By ensuring robust protections and structured implementation, the HSE and the unions aim to deliver extended services sustainably, without compromising worker welfare or patient safety.' The INMO said the vast majority of its members already work a 24/7 roster. In a notice to members on the changes, it said the agreement does not mean that all services will be automatically changed. Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill welcomed the staff rostering agreement with health unions. She said she was told early on when she took office about MRI and CT scans not being operated in some hospitals at weekends. She acknowledged hospitals were hampered by a lack of digitisation and said a business case was currently with the Department of Health for the rollout of electronic records.
Irish Times
20-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Minimum pay for childcare workers to rise to €15 an hour
Childcare workers will earn a minimum of €15 an hour under proposals jointly agreed by employers and unions. The Joint Labour Committee, which is made up of childcare providers and unions representing childcare staff, have agreed the minimum hourly raise rate from €13.65 to €15 an hour, an increase of 10 per cent. Some 35,000 people work in the childcare sector in Ireland. The new pay agreement will be underpinned by an extra €45 million provided to the sector by the Government. The proposals will now go to those childcare staff that are unionised, but Siptu has recommended approval. READ MORE Siptu's head of strategic organising Darragh O'Connor said it was a 'really big step in the journey for recognition, respect and decent pay for early years professionals'. [ 'The Government has gone very quiet': childcare providers protest for support after election promises Opens in new window ] However, he added that staffing remains a 'huge issue' with the sector and can only be relieved by continued Government investment. Childcare Service Ireland, the Ibec group that represents childcare providers, said it will help ringfence funding for wages to reach early years educators. 'There are several pressing issues facing providers, and we look forward to working with the Minister to address these challenges. Our goal is to ensure the continued sustainability of a high-quality early childhood education and care sector,' a spokesperson said. 'Any further increases in wages must be fully supported by Government funding, as the ongoing fee freeze and the incoming fee caps significantly limit providers' ability to absorb additional costs.' Minister for Children Norma Foley said the 10 per cent increase in minimum pay represents a 'significant step' towards fair pay for educators in the sector. [ Childcare crisis driving employees out of workforce Opens in new window ] She said her department pledge to put another €45 million into the sector helped get the deal over the line. 'If these proposals are implemented through updated Employment Regulation Orders, they will bring much-needed improvements in pay for these dedicated professionals, enhancing the quality of care and education provided to children across Ireland,' she said. 'I am hopeful that these proposals will soon come into effect, marking a positive change for our dedicated and skilled staff in the early learning and childcare sector and the services that employ them.'
Irish Examiner
18-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Strike action at BNM Recycling called off after talks breakthrough
Strike action planned for Thursday morning at Bord na Móna Recycling has been called off after agreement was reached between union representatives and management. BNM Recycling, Ireland's last publicly owned domestic waste collection service, is to be sold to Munster waste management company KWD. Siptu representatives rejected a Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) proposal aimed at solving the dispute as the union sought a Registered Employment Agreement which would protect members' terms and conditions. A strike was due to begin in Dublin and across the Midlands at 4am on Thursday morning. However, union representatives met management of Bord na Móna Recycling in Portlaoise on Wednesday afternoon and an improved offer was reached with management. "A significantly improved offer for workers who will be impacted by any sale of the company was secured," said Siptu divisional organiser, Adrian Kane. "This offer was discussed by the Siptu Bord na Móna Recycling shop stewards who unanimously agreed to propose acceptance of the offer to their members. 'The new offer will now be balloted on by Siptu members employed in Bord na Móna Recycling. While we have made major progress concerning the industrial relations matters related to the proposed sale of the company, many concerns remain about the proposal to privatise this state asset and the wider direction of domestic waste services in Ireland.' The strike action would have seen pickets placed on nine Bord na Móna Recycling depots across midland counties and Dublin. BNM Recycling operates services in Carlow, Dublin, Kildare, Laois, Limerick, Louth, Offaly, Meath, Tipperary, Westmeath, Wexford, and Wicklow. KWD operates waste and recycling services in Kerry, Cork, and Limerick. In April, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) cleared the proposed sale to KWD subject to KWD divesting a certain number of domestic and 'commercial & industrial' customers to another waste collection provider.
Irish Independent
18-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Last-minute talks underway to avert strikes at bin company which serves 135,000
Siptu officials are meeting managers at Bord na Móna Recycling in Portlaoise at the request of the company to discuss the upcoming sale of the company to KWD Recycling. Its members are due to mount pickets for a one-day stoppage that begins at 4am tomorrow. Siptu divisional organiser, Adrian Kane, said pickets will be placed on nine Bord na Móna Recycling depots across midland counties and Dublin. He said the union is seeking an urgent meeting with Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy, Darragh O'Brien, to discuss the dispute. 'We have made clear in talks with the company that our members oppose the sale of this state asset as a move which will cost customers, workers and the environment,' he said. He claimed the company and the private entity seeking to purchase it have refused to agree a Registered Employment Agreement to protect the workers' terms and conditions. 'This dispute is an issue of national importance as its outcome is crucial to the future of the domestic waste collection sector in Ireland,' he said. 'We can have a sector which works for customers, workers and the environment or one which is purely concerned with generating profit.' He said the future of domestic waste collection services is of major political importance and the Government has a crucial role to play. Mr Kane said Siptu is leading calls for a more rational, cost effective and environmentally progressive reorganisation of domestic waste collection services. He said talks yesterday ended without agreement, but the company sought a meeting again this afternoon. A Bord na Móna Recycling spokesperson previously said it had received confirmation of notice of industrial action by the union after it rejected proposals presented by the Workplace Relations Commission. He said this was extremely disappointing as agreed industrial relations procedures should mean the next stage in the dispute is a referral to the Labour Court. The spokesperson said the company would endeavour to keep any disruption to waste collection services to a minimum. He said alternative collections will be scheduled for those impacted by the industrial action. The commercial semi-state company provides wheelie bin and waste-collection services to domestic and business customers in Leinster and Munster. It has customers in Carlow, Kildare, Laois, Limerick, Meath, Offaly, Roscommon, Tipperary, Westmeath, Wexford and Wicklow. The Irish Independent has asked Bord na Móna Recycling for a statement on today's talks.
