Strike notice served on CIT

One of the country’s largest institutes of technology is facing a potentially crippling strike next week in a row over axed canteen staff.

Siptu served official strike notice on Cork Institute of Technology last night after six staff were let go from Student Services Ltd — a private, not-for-profit company which manages the institute’s four canteens and restaurants, as well as two shops.

Siptu said the six women were let go on Friday without any consultation or redundancy payments. The union sought a meeting with senior CIT management last week, including the institute’s president, Brendan Murphy, who sits on the company’s board, to discuss ways of saving the jobs.