Kells Credit Union staff to strike on Saturday
Workers at Kells Credit Union will hold a one day strike again on Saturday.
SIPTU members in the Credit Union will resume their industrial action at the weekend and this will be followed by a series of rolling stoppages, according to SIPTU Organiser, Adrian Kane, who was speaking after a meeting of union members at the credit union.
“The industrial action will continue until such time as Kells Credit Union complies with the terms of a Labour Court recommendation concerning collective bargaining rights.
Staff at the Credit Union held a one day strike at the end of June.
“SIPTU members in Kells Credit Union have great courage and a steely resolve. They are determined that they will not be denied the right to be represented collectively by a trade union,” he said.
In a statement issued this week St Colmcilles (Kells) Credit Union said it has always recognised the right of its staff to join a trade union and this is clearly stated in the Kells Credit Union Employee Handbook.
“SIPTU has complained that Kells Credit Union has declined to recognise SIPTU for collective bargaining purposes. This is distinct from and different to the claim by SIPTU that there is a refusal to recognise the right of a worker to join a trade union.
“Kells Credit Union is a small local institution, with nine members of staff, all of different grades and different allocated duties.
“The Credit Union believes that collective bargaining in this particular instance would not be appropriate. Kells Credit Union values each and every member of staff and is more than happy to deal with each staff member and their union representative based on their individual circumstances rather than collectively”.
The statement points out that Kells Credit Union never had an issue that was not satisfactorily resolved with their staff.
“When the staff originally joined the trade union, this was to seek advice on the credit union potentially placing the staff onto a reduced working week. It was at this stage that the trade union raised the issue of collective bargaining and it is the trade union that has continued to issue demands for collective bargaining, taking no account of the wishes of the Board of Management who represent the members. Collective bargaining is not a statutory entitlement and St Colmcilles (Kells) Credit Union is not in breach of any legislation by adopting this position,” the statement reads.