St Patrick’s parades at risk over staff dispute

SOME of the country’s largest St Patrick’s Day festivals and parades could be at risk because of public service industrial action.

IMPACT confirmed it has instructed its members working in Cork City Council to withdraw their “participation and engagement” in the organisation of the local authority-run event.

IMPACT’s national industrial action began on Monday as part of its campaign for the reversal of pay cuts announced in December’s budget.

Its Cork branch wrote to its members in the city council yesterday informing them that their further participation in the organisation of Leeside’s festival and parade is in breach of the current industrial action.

“Please note that from today IMPACT members are instructed not to take part in, or attend, any forum or function regarding the festival,” the letter stated.

The instruction was issued on foot of advice from the union’s national secretary.

A spokesperson for the local branch said such festival organisation work is outside the terms of some workers’ contracts, but is an example of the flexibility shown by public service workers. “This instruction is a consequence of the Government walking away from negotiations.”

A spokesperson for IMPACT headquarters said the latest move applies only to its members in Cork City Council at this stage. But he could not rule out the issuing of similar instructions to other local authority workers around of the country.

The situation could escalate further on Monday when SIPTU’s work-to-rule begins.

“The fact remains that these kinds of projects rely on the voluntary co-operation of public service workers. And we are withdrawing voluntary co-operation,” the spokesman said.

Lord Mayor of Cork Dara Murphy appealed to IMPACT to reconsider its position. “I appreciate the workers have been put in a difficult situation following the cutbacks in their wages caused by successive years of economic mismanagement by the government,” he said.

He said all the organisational work for Cork’s St Patrick’s Day festival and parade can take place over the coming weeks within normal working hours.

This year’s parade is to have a nautical theme, celebrating the river Lee and Cork harbour.