Tullow Credit Union strike escalates as union lodges Labour Court complaint
The strike resumes tomorrow.
Staff at Tullow Credit Union will return to the picket line tomorrow (Friday) as the industrial dispute over union recognition enters its sixth week, with the Financial Services Union (FSU) now taking the matter to the Labour Court.
According to the FSU, the credit union’s board of directors has refused to engage in any meaningful discussions to resolve the dispute, prompting the union to escalate it.
Pickets will be in place all day on Friday 9 October and again on Monday 12 October.
“Due to the complete intransigence of the Board of Directors of Tullow Credit Union, staff have been left with no option but to escalate the official dispute,” said Gareth Murphy, head of industrial relations and campaigns with the FSU.
Mr Murphy said that because the board had refused to enter meaningful discussions with the FSU through the Workplace Relations Commission, the union has now lodged a formal complaint with the Labour Court.
The FSU has informed the board that the dispute will be paused if both sides agree in advance to implement any recommendations made by the Labour Court.
“This is an important opportunity for the Board to end this dispute,” Mr Murphy said. “It is bizarre we have reached this stage, but we remain optimistic that common sense will prevail.”
The dispute dates back to the summer. The FSU opened a ballot of its members at the credit union on 5 August over the union’s right to collectively bargain on their behalf. The union says it represents the majority of employees there, who are seeking recognition and collective representation in negotiations on pay, terms and conditions, and the ballot returned a 100% vote in favour of industrial action.
Strike action began on 3 September, with pickets placed outside the front door of the credit union. At the time, the FSU criticised the chairperson of the board and a member of the board oversight committee for passing the picket and opening the premises.
As the strike entered its second week, the union said hundreds of local people had signed a petition supporting the staff, and that it had informed the Central Bank of its concerns about the credit union being opened by a single person who was not a member of staff.
