Community workers begin hunger strike in protest over loss of jobs in FÁS funding cuts

COMMUNITY workers began a hunger strike outside the General Post Office in Dublin yesterday to try and convince Taoiseach Bertie Ahern that their jobs are worth saving.

The strikers, who had no problem persuading passers by to sign their petition, began their 24-hour protest at noon yesterday to coincide with the 90th anniversary of the Great Lock-out.

Terry Fagan is one of a group of 34 people affected by cuts in the Jobs Initiative Programme run in the Taoiseach's Dublin Central constituency.

Altogether, 325 people are being moved off the scheme because of cuts in FÁS funding.

Mr Fagan, who works in the Dublin Folklore Centre, is one of a number of people who have been working on schemes for up to seven years, providing services to schools, community groups and the elderly in their age.

"We are to be let go on October 17 despite having a contract until December 31. There will be no Christmas for us if the cuts go ahead," he said.

The programme, introduced in July 1996, provides full-time employment for over-35s who have previously been unemployed for five years or more.

It was designed to prepare people for opportunities in the open labour market by providing vital work experience, training and development opportunities.

Mr Fagan said he was in his 50s and had a family. His fear was that if the cuts went ahead he would be unable to work again.

FÁS director of community services Liam Treacy said they started the year with 2,525 people on the scheme but the Government's budget allocation was only enough to allow for 2,200 participants by the year end.

He said FÁS was now providing support for those involved to find alternative employment or training.

"I don't dispute that the people involved are doing very valuable work. But our focus is to transfer people from welfare dependency to paid employment," he said.