Meeting on local employment today
by Niall Shanahan
 

Unions, senior officials from the social protection department, and representatives of the Irish Local Development Network (ILDN) meet today (Friday) to discuss issues arising from plans to put local employment services (LES) out to tender.

 

The move follows a demonstration by hundreds of LES staff outside Government buildings last week (Monday 6th September). The rally was organised by Fórsa and SIPTU.

 

The unions have said a Government-imposed tendering process favours for-profit providers over the current community-focussed, not-for-profit service. This means that privatisation, job losses and a diminished employment service is likely unless the Government changes course.  

 

Members rallying at Government buildings called for an immediate intervention by Taoiseach Michéal Martin in the face of a real threat of privatisation of the services. The message to Government, ‘Our Community Is Not For Sale’ was also backed by Dublin city councillors and Dublin Lord Mayor Alison Gilliland.

 

Fórsa official Lynn Coffey said a meeting is to take place today (Friday 17th September) between unions, senior officials from the Department of Social Protection and representatives of the Irish Local Development Network (ILDN), which is the representative body for Ireland's local development companies (LDCs).

 

“Today’s meeting gives unions the opportunity to voice our concerns directly to senior officials. Jobs have been lost already and more are on the line if these changes proceed as planned, with the prospect of staff being thrown out of work as early as January.

 

“At the very least, pay and working conditions are likely to be greatly diminished. And vital community employment services will be damaged at a time when over 300,000 people are unemployed or on PUP payments.

 

“We are demanding that the Taoiseach listens to our concerns over jobs and service quality, and works with us to establish a stakeholder forum involving service providers, job-seekers, workers’ representatives, government and academic experts,” she said.

 

“Jobs are on the line if these changes proceed as planned, with the prospect of staff being thrown out of work as early as January. At the very least, pay and working conditions are likely to be greatly diminished. And vital community employment services will be damaged at a time when over 300,000 people are unemployed or on PUP payments,” she said.

 

A short video of the rally is available to view HERE

 

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