22/01/2009

Tara Mines Workers Accept Deal

Siptu trade union members who work at crisis-hit Tara Mines in Co Meath have voted to accept a deal to amend their work practices in a bid to secure the future of the company.

Some 60% voted in favour of the deal. The company said that the package is necessary because of a dramatic fall in zinc prices.

Siptu members in the Dublin Health Services Branch have also gone to voting box this week, but this time agreeing - by a majority 98% - to take industrial action if necessary to protect their jobs and conditions of employment.

Siptu Health Sector Organiser Paul Bell said: "The decision to ballot for contingent strike action arose out of a clear and provocative public statement by a senior manager in the HSE to the effect that health workers were inefficient, too expensive and inflexible."

He went on to say he intended tearing up or ignoring collective agreements, which enshrine our agreed terms and conditions of employment, and, furthermore, to ignore existing third party procedures for resolving disputes.

"This was tantamount to a declaration of war on our members. We had only one way of preparing for such an attack and that was to obtain a strike mandate," he said.

(DW/BMcC)

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