Just over 92% of Fórsa members backed industrial action - up to and including strike action - over the issue of outsourcing work from South Dublin County Council’s (SDCC) legal department, specifically, the engagement of external solicitors for debt recovery of rates arrears. 

The ballot, of almost 500 Fórsa members at SDCC, closed on Tuesday, 18th February. 

Fórsa’s position is that no meaningful engagement with management has taken place, despite the union’s efforts to do so.  

Fórsa official Maura Cahalan said: “SDCC management is making a crude attempt to obscure its real position, which is a blunt refusal to adequately staff SDCC’s legal department to carry out its required functions.” 

In relation to a report which appeared in the Tallaght Echo last week Maura said: “The way in which SDCC chose to attack Fórsa members is wholly unacceptable. We absolutely reject the inappropriate tone taken by senior management at last Monday’s Council meeting.” 

She continued: “This unequivocal vote by members shows that SDCC management totally misread the room when they alleged that council staff don’t support the union’s views on this.” 

Branch chair Noel McCarthy said: “Members came out to show their support for the branch committees’ position by voting in the ballot. It’s really encouraging that we now have a clear mandate from members to continue advocating on their behalf.” 

The union’s Local Government and Local Services divisional executive will meet shortly to consider the next steps in the dispute. 

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