Threat of industrial action looms at CSSO

Trade union Siptu has threatened industrial action at the Chief State Solicitor’s Office (CSSO) after eight security workers were left without work following a change in contractor.

Top Security Management started operating at the Dublin city office yesterday, having won the tender to supply security services earlier this year. The firm replaced Manguard Plus but refused to take on their workers.

The workers protested outside the CSSO yesterday, arguing that under transfer of undertakings guidelines (TUPE), the new security contractor was obliged to retain them as staff.

“This is an unacceptable situation where security officers who have given loyal and professional service keeping the Chief State Solicitor’s Offices and its staff safe, find themselves being displaced by others probably on much lower wages,” said Siptu organiser Peadar Nolan.

“In this instance the security officers have been essentially locked out from their job and displaced by other security officers with no redundancy paid. This is contrary to the norms established under transfer of undertakings regulations,” he added.

Mr Nolan said he wanted Top Security to meet the workers’ representatives in the Labour Commission but complained the firm had so far refused to respond to any correspondence about the transfer. “We can’t even get them to engage at the lowest level of industrial relations,” he said.

He said Siptu would not rule out industrial action and indicated it could seek the cooperation of other unions who represent workers in the CSSO.

Top Security failed to return numerous phone calls from The Irish Times yesterday while the CSSO said the transfer of staff under TUPE was a matter for the two companies involved.

In July, Manguard informed its eight workers at the CSSO that the company had lost its security contract with the office.

The workers claim Top failed to contact them in writing about the new arrangement. About a week and a half ago, according to Thomas Sadlier, a worker at yesterday’s protest, an official from Top told a member of the old security detail that their jobs would not be transferred and they could instead reapply for their positions.

This was unacceptable to the workers because it could have resulted in them losing higher pay rates accrued over years of service. Under Manguard the workers received just over €11 an hour. They claim they would make about €9 an hour under Top’s terms.

“We’re basically out in limbo,” said Mr Sadlier. He said the workers haven’t received their P45 forms and are unable to start claiming social welfare. He added that Manguard cannot redeploy them.

Mr Sadlier, who has seven years experience in the industry, said lower wages were unacceptable to workers who had earned higher rates. “It’s a very anti-social job. We worked up the rates because we worked hard,” he said.