SIPTU has served strike notice for 120 care workers at 30 community workshops throughout the State from June 3rd. The workshops were set up to provide training for early school leavers in a wide range of skills, such as typing, computing and wood working.
The care workers involved are, seeking pay parity with FAS staff. Although the workshops are funded by FAS, they are run by local sponsors who have failed to comply with Labour Court guidelines on pay issued eight years ago.
The assistant general secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Mr Kevin Duffy, has invited SIPTU to attend talks in an effort to avert the strike. The union negotiator, Ms Patricia King, said yesterday that SIPTU would attend the talks but any further prevarication by management would mean the strike going ahead as planned.