Limerick care centre strike ends

An official strike at a care centre in Limerick has ended after care workers agreed to return to normal employment duties tomorrow.

Industrial action at the Brothers of Charity in Bawnmore started two weeks ago after 14 workers were suspended in a row over staffing levels. The workers, who are all members of SIPTU, claimed they were locked out of their employment without recourse to normal industrial relations procedure.

More than 100 other SIPTU members at the Brothers of Charity had also voted by a majority of three to one in favour of escalating the strike action later this week. If the strike had escalated, it was feared that many of the intellectually disabled clients at the centre would have been sent home.

However, in a statement issued today SIPTU confirmed that pickets had ended and the 14 striking members would return to normal working duties tomorrow.

The move followed agreement to refer the issues in dispute over client/staffing ratios to a full Labour Court Hearing, which has been confirmed for next Wednesday.

The complex at Bawnmore comprises residential and day facilities for adults with severe disabilities in a village-type complex.

"Any SIPTU member who had been taken off the roster in anticipation of the commencement of the planned extended industrial action by 130 workers, will be back on the roster on Thursday April 13," said SIPTU organiser Karan O'Loughlin.

Management at the Brothers of Charity in Limerick had described the industrial action as "totally unnecessary" and "unjustified". They claimed that SIPTU had already rejected a number of reasonable solutions to the impasse before the Labour Relations Commission last week.

Management also warned that the strike action threatened the safety of its many vulnerable service users at the Bawnmore complex. The issues in dispute at the care centre are due to be heard at an emergency session of the Labour Court next Wednesday.