Garda college cleaners to start work-to-rule

Cleaners at the Garda College in Templemore described by their trade union as the “lowest-paid civil servants in the country”, intend to start a work-to-rule.

According to Andy Pike, national secretary withImpact trade union, the 40 cleaners have a starting salary of the national minimum wage of €9.15 per hour, well short of the recommended €11.50 living wage.

“Staff are also expected to carry out a wide range of extended housekeeping duties without receiving any additional reward,” Mr Pike said.

As well as the work-to- rule, Impact said it may also take an equal pay case against the State because male staff doing similar work in other parts of the public service are paid significantly more, in some cases up to 25%, than the female college cleaners in dispute.

Furthermore, an employment regulation order for cleaning in the private sector means workers there should earn close to the living wage.

The union is also unhappy with, what it claims, management’s failure to hire enough staff to deal with increased student numbers.

It also wants a formal Health and Safety Authority inspection of the facility.