A row is escalating over plans to make 87 staff redundant at Carlow College St Patrick’s.
SIPTU has criticised management for attempting to postpone talks on the proposed job losses, accusing the institution of failing to engage properly with workers’ representatives.
The college announced last month that it will wind down operations over the next two years, with its land and buildings transferring to South East Technological University.
A public meeting in support of those employed at the facility took place last Friday followed on Sunday by a solidarity concert. (See response to KCLR News from Carlow College to comments by Senator Patricia Stephenson here).
Union Organiser, Yvonne McGrath says they’re calling for transparency and meaningful engagement, saying; “I’ve had two prior meetings with Carlow College but we haven’t received even the details of the memorandum of understanding that was reached between Carlow College, the Department or SETU, we don’t have a matrix for the selection for redundancies, we do know that they will be having voluntary redundancies in the first instance but they’ve also made their intentions known that if they don’t get enough voluntary redundancies they’ll be having mandatory redundancies”.
