SIPTU members at Cliffs of Moher to strike

SIPTU members at the Cliffs of Moher are to strike from next Thursday following the collapse of pay talks with management at the world-renowned visitor attraction.

At the centre of the dispute is a 2010 Labour Court recommendation that workers at the cliffs receive the same pay and conditions as their counterparts at Clare County Council.

The attraction is operated by council subsidiary, Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre Ltd, and has, to date, refused to abide by the Labour Court recommendation.

SIPTU last month suspended planned industrial action over the company’s refusal to implement the recommendation to allow talks take place under the LRC.

However, the talks broke down with no resolution and SIPTU yesterday served a seven-day strike notice.

SIPTU organiser, Tony Kenny, said: “Unfortunately, we are left with no alternative at this point in time.”

He said the company refused to return to the Labour Court to find a resolution. “It is most disappointing that this employer, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Clare County Council, not alone refuses to implement a LRC recommendation, but now refuses to even return to the Labour Court to prevent a dispute.”

He said visitor numbers increased by 19% for the first six months of this year, from 291,085 to 345,398.

However, a spokeswoman for the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre Ltd said if the company were to implement the Labour Court recommendation, it would result in 13 jobs losses. She said management have put in place plans to ensure “the smooth operation of the centre throughout any period of industrial action.”