Siptu edging closer to industrial action over State Solicitor’s Office dispute

Industrial action at the Chief State Solicitor’s Office (CSSO) appears increasingly likely as a protest involving former security workers enters its third day.

Trade union Siptu had threatened industrial action at the Dublin city office after eight security workers were left without jobs following a change in contractor.

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

Contractor
The workers argue that under Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) guidelines (TUPE), the new security contractor was obliged to retain them as staff.

Yesterday Siptu organiser Peadar Nolan said the protest had achieved nothing, with Top Security and the CSSO refusing to speak to workers’ representatives.

He said Siptu and the workers would review the situation in the coming days, indicating that a decision on how to proceed could be taken as soon as today. He added that Siptu would seek the support of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions if it decided to instigate industrial action.

Mr Nolan said he wanted Top Security to meet the workers’ representatives in the Labour Commission but complained the firm had refused to respond to any correspondence.

“We can’t even get them to engage at the lowest level of industrial relations,” he said.

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 Security failed to contact them in writing about the new arrangement.

Reapply
About two weeks ago, according to former security worker Thomas Sadlier, an official from Top Security told a member of the old security detail that their jobs would not be transferred and they could instead reapply for their positions.

Mr Sadlier said that was unacceptable to the workers because it would see them losing pay rates accrued over years of work. “We’re basically out in limbo,” he added, saying the workers haven’t received their P45 forms and are unable to start claiming social welfare.

Top Security declined a number of requests for comment from The Irish Times while the CSSO said the transfer of staff under TUPE was a matter for the two companies involved.