A GROUP of former workers staging a “work-in” at an employment outreach office in Cork are confident the centre can reopen again with trade union support.
The Cork Council of Trade Unions Employment Resource Centre on North Main Street closed three days before Christmas following the loss of a Fás funding contract.
A lunchtime protest at the centre yesterday drew up to 80 supporters, including users of the service, who have formed the Friends of the Centre support group. A core volunteer team of eight former staff members reopened the centre on Tuesday and are continuing the service without pay. More volunteers have since signed up to support the initiative.
“We reopened the centre on Tuesday as it would have normally done, with a volunteer core staff that has increased to between 10 and 12 since,” said John Halford, a retired former employee at the centre. “Financially we can stay open only for another week or two. We need money to pay basic bills,” he said.
Formerly managed by the Cork Council of Trade Unions, the centre costs €100,000 annually to run. Fás withdrew its contract for funding for 2012 after concerns were raised about administration systems and programme procedures at the office.
Former workers described a meeting yesterday with two council officials as “positive” and said they were confident of an outcome that would allow the centre to continue its work.
“We put forward our proposals for funding as an independent body but we are dependent on funds, we cannot function properly without them,” said Mr Halford.
Former centre manager Willie Fitzpatrick said a plan for its reopening and long-term funding was well received at yesterday’s meeting with council officials.
“We have given them our plans as to how to go forward with non-government funding to keep the centre open. I’m confident of a positive outcome, we share a common goal,” he said.
He said he was “blown away” by support at yesterday’s demonstration organised in opposition to the official closure of the office.
“We are asking that the trade union movement continue to operate the centre for the 55,000 unemployed people in Cork. We are the only centre of this kind in the city,” Mr Fitzpatrick said.