Call for 'urgent intervention' in industrial dispute at credit union

The union representing staff in financial services has called for "urgent intervention" in an industrial dispute at a Carlow credit union.

The Financial Services Union has described the "behaviour and actions" of the board of directors of Tullow Credit Union as "deeply troubling and requiring immediate investigation by the Central Bank".

The statement came amid a strike action at the credit union which began in early September. 

In a statement on Wednesday, the FSU claimed its representatives and those of the credit union had been due to attend discussions at the Workplace Relations Commission yesterday but that the board chair had "refused to engage on any substantive issue".

FSU head of industrial relations Gareth Murphy accused the chairperson of showing "complete contempt for the WRC in refusing to engage and equally showed complete disrespect to the staff of Tullow Credit Union.

"At the meeting the FSU were informed the board of directors of Tullow Credit Union met in emergency meeting and agreed to terminate the contract of the current chief executive officer without going through any formal process. 

"The current CEO is an FSU member and has been on strike with the rest of the staff over the last two weeks. He was informed yesterday of his dismissal by the chairperson of the board," said Mr Murphy.

"This is the behaviour of a board of directors that is out of it depth and has lost complete control of the situation."

The FSU alleges that the credit union has hired "a number of outside consultants including a PR firm".

"The Central Bank needs to state whether they have sanctioned these hires, whether they have adequate oversight of the workings of the board, and whether the oversight board has met to determine if all proper procedures are been followed."

The FSU said the strike at Tullow Credit Union will continue, with staff on the picket lines all day Friday and next Monday.

Tullow Credit Union did not respond to a request for comment.

A notice in late August alerted members to the strike action, saying that the dispute concerns the FSU’s request "for recognition and collective bargaining".

"Separately, and before receipt of the strike notice, the board completed its consideration of an independent pay and benefits review commissioned earlier this year. The outcome of that separate process is being addressed directly and confidentially with employees.

"The board regrets the inconvenience that the proposed industrial action may cause. Our immediate priority is to protect the interests of the Credit Union and its members and to maintain safe and secure member services as far as possible.

"We thank members for their patience and understanding and will continue to provide updates as the contingency arrangements are finalised."

Junior minister and local TD Jennifer Murnane O'Connor has previously called on both sides to find a solution at the WRC.

"I fully recognise and appreciate the real issues and concerns that have caused the strike and I acknowledge the patience of credit union members at this time," she said. 

"All disputes have to come to an end and the best way to do this is by using the industrial relations machinery that we have in Ireland, which is the Workplace Relations Commission."