IMPACT has written to all councillors at Dublin City Council, rejecting chief executive Owen Keegan’s claim that street cleaning and road and housing maintenance jobs in the authority are at risk of privatisation.
Mr Keegan’s claim follows a decision by the Council to oppose his plans for a consolidated or ‘super depot’ at Marrowbone Lane. IMPACT’s Municipal division represents street cleaning and road and housing maintenance staff at Dublin City Council.
IMPACT industrial relations officer Shane Lambert wrote to councillors last week to say the union does not accept there is any need to privatise services, and that no proposals on the consolidation of council depots have been put to the union.
Shane said: "As the union representing street cleaning and road and housing maintenance staff at DCC, IMPACT does not accept there is any need to privatise any services, regardless of what happens to the Marrowbone Lane site in the future.
"We believe there are plenty of alternative sites that could be developed. Management has not presented any proposals, nor arranged discussions with us, on the possible consolidation of DCC depot facilities.
"In the discussion about the future plans for the area, I note that councillors have expressed understandable concerns over the lack of green spaces and amenities in the Dublin 8 area. The union acknowledges the importance of recognising the needs of the local community in any decisions about how services are developed,” he said.
Shane added that the union has always operated on the basis that it is best to consult matters openly, giving consideration to the views of all stakeholders. “However, rather than engage in discussions with us, we have instead been threatened by the chief executive with privatisation as an inevitable result of the decision on Marrowbone Lane.
"No case for privatisation has been put to union. We don't believe there is a valid case to be made. IMPACT will strongly resist any attempt to outsource or privatise council services, and it’s completely unacceptable to threaten privatisation as a response to the decision by democratically elected city councillors."
Shane welcomed the support expressed by a number of councillors this week in response to the privatisation threat.
You can read Shane’s letter to Dublin City councillors here.
