One-day strikes threatens Kilkenny Arts Festival

ONE of the country’s most popular tourist attractions will be closed to the public if a series of planned one-day strikes begins next week.

Guides, constables, general operatives, cleaners and storekeepers, who are SIPTU members at Kilkenny Castle and Park, have balloted in favour of industrial action starting on August 5.

SIPTU's local public sector representative Bill Mulcahy said the strike was part of an effort to improve the working environment and the climate of industrial relations.

Difficulties raised by staff include some management problems, the lack of disciplinary and grievance procedures, the lack of a forum in which to air difficulties or grievances, and poor communications.

Other issues include the employment of contract cleaners, overtime, and health and safety issues.

The strike comes in the midst of the peak tourist season in the city and as the internationally-renowned Kilkenny Arts Festival gets underway on August 8. Parts of the festival are due to be hosted within the castle and the threatened closure next Tuesday is set to play havoc with preparations.

The disruption is regrettable, Mr Mulcahy said, but added that staff have struggled for long enough to try to improve their plight.

"Seventeen union members effectively the entire complement of full-time staff at the Castle and Park will be involved in the industrial action.

"This will take the form of a series of one day strikes, starting on August 5, and continuing on further dates as decided by the strike committee. A withdrawal from specified duties by certain union members will also begin on August 6.

"The dispute centres around the failure by local management to implement key recommendations contained in a report issued by the Labour Relations Commission Advisory Service in December 2002. There are also many other outstanding industrial relations issues within Kilkenny Castle that are not being dealt with by local management," Mr Mulcahy said.

He added that staff regretted having to take the action in the run up to the Kilkenny Arts Festival, but 'all our efforts over the past 18 months to improve industrial relations at the Castle, have been frustrated by local management'.

Kilkenny Chamber of Commerce and Industry described the action as regrettable and said they hoped the outstanding issues might be resolved as quickly as possible. CEO, Alison McGrath said the castle is the second biggest tourist attraction in the south east after Waterford Crystal.

"It is regrettable that Kilkenny Castle, the number one attraction in our city, is to be closed for a day on Tuesday due to industrial action. Any interruption to the 30th annual Kilkenny Arts Festival is also regrettable and it is imperative that the dispute be resolved as soon as possible," she said.

A spokesman for the Department of the Environment said that senior management in its historic properties section plans a meeting with SIPTU today in an effort to find a resolution and avoid industrial action.

And he added that the department is hopeful that the property will remain open for business on Tuesday, come what may.