Further work stoppages ‘likely’ at young offenders centre

More work stoppages could take place at the country’s main centre for young offenders unless a dispute over rosters and sick leave is resolved, according to the Impact trade union.

A one-hour work stoppage took place at the Oberstown detention centre on Monday — the same day that it was the subject of an inspection report by Hiqa.

The one-hour stoppage was the latest development in a disagreement between management at the centre and its staff over rotas and over pay and procedures for staff absent because they were injured while on duty.

The Hiqa report, while highlighting examples of good practice at Oberstown, also raised concerns over some aspects of care of the young people there, including the use of single separation and an incident in which a young person being restrained was handcuffed.

It also highlighted staff issues over the rota and the inability of some workers to take a huge amount of annual leave that is owed, adding that this contributed to “low morale”.

Christina Carney, the Impact representative for more than 200 staff at Oberstown, said she believed morale was low due to rota issues and because of what she said was a lack of a suitable injury and assault leave scheme.

“There are significant issues regarding the rota,” she said, adding that at least three staff are currently off work because of injuries sustained on the job.

Some of those are understood to be off work for more than a year and consequently, are not now receiving pay.

Ms Carney said a local branch meeting was held on Monday night and discussions with management would intensify in the next four weeks over the concerns of staff at the facility.

However, she said future stoppages would be considered and that the union was “likely to give notice” of same unless key issues are addressed.

Oberstown is made up of two centres for boys, in the Trinity House School and Oberstown Boys School, as well as Oberstown Girls School.

A spokesperson for the Department of Children and Youth Affairs said because the number of boys detained in Oberstown is far greater than the number of girls detained, there needed to be staff flexibility to reflect the balancing requirements involved.

“A new care staff roster was put in place in February 2013 under the Croke Park Agreement,” the spokesperson said. “The most significant reform in this roster was that it provided (for the first time) for flexible deployment of staff across the campus, depending on business need eg staff in Oberstown Girls School can be deployed to the other two children detention schools when there are few or no females in custody. This was not possible before.

“Since February 2013, management have analysed the operation of the roster in the light of experience since 2013 and have concluded that the way shifts and working hours are organised needs to be changed in the light of practical experience, continuity of service and the needs of the children.

“The need to change the roster is disputed by the unions. The roster agreement of 2013 contained a review clause and this is the review that is currently ongoing as part of the current negotiations.

“Pending the outcome of this process, the roster that was agreed in 2013 is in operation.”