Cliffs of Moher centre on brink of strike action

SIPTU members are to vote today on a revised offer by the company operating the Cliffs of Moher visitor attraction in a bid to avert strike action planned to commence tomorrow.

Union officials, however, are not optimistic about likelihood of the revised offer being accepted.

Yesterday, the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre wrote to SIPTU offering improved terms for workers, including increased payments for Sundays and bank holidays.

At the centre of the dispute is a 2010 Labour Court recommendation that said workers at the Cliffs should receive the same pay and conditions as counterparts at Clare county council.

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

Management has put in place contingency plans to ensure the continued operation of the centre in the event of any industrial action.

However, in response to the revised package, SIPTU spokesman Tony Kenny said yesterday he will ballot his members on the fresh offer.

However, he said: “This amended proposal is no more than a tinkering around the edges of their previous proposal that was overwhelmingly rejected at ballot. Nonetheless, we will put this proposal to ballot among our members, but I am not optimistic that it will bridge the gap between us.”

Mr Kenny said the result of the ballot will be made known today.

Mr Kenny called on the council subsidiary to agree to return to the Labour Court in an effort to find a resolution and avoid industrial action.

“We remain available and always have been, to return to the Labour Court on this issue. Indeed we would welcome such a move as we would the company’s agreement to a Labour Court appointed assessor to once and for all clarify the company’s finances,” he said.

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

The company says implementing the Labour Court recommendation would result in 13 jobs losses at the Cliffs and impose an annual cost of €400,000.

“While 2011 has seen some recovery in visitor numbers, these had fallen by 23% between 2007 and 2010 resulting in significant losses at the centre,” said the company. “The offer of the pay award was subject to business performance at the centre continuing to perform well throughout the summer season.”

Since 2007, losses at the centre reached €600,000.