Unions reject Rabbitte's lay-offs

national | worker & community struggles and protests | other press Thursday December 09, 2004 11:17 by Liam

Some members are deeply unhappy they have not been kept properly informed.

"On behalf of our members we are to advise you that our members will not accept the manner or means by which your organisation have taken the decision to dismiss their colleagues."

Unions reject Rabbitte's lay-offs
Mark Hennessy, Political Correspondent

The decision by Labour Party leader Mr Pat Rabbitte to order the lay-off of two members of the party's headquarters staff will not be accepted, SIPTU and the National Union of Journalists have warned.

In a joint letter to Labour's general secretary, Mr Mike Allen, the unions complained they had not received a copy of an internal review of the party's structures carried out in the early summer.

Last month, Mr Rabbitte told the two affected staff, Mr Angus Laverty, Labour's communication officer, and Cllr Ciarán Byrne, the party's training officer, they were to be made redundant.

The redundancies and the letter from SIPTU and the NUJ will be discussed today by the party's national executive. Some members are deeply unhappy they have not been kept properly informed.

The Labour leader commissioned a report from consultant David Kinnear during the summer on the quality of the party's internal organisation.

He subsequently brought in the former head of the Labour Court, Mr John Horgan, to advise on the plan's implementation, sources said.

Though Mr Kinnear recommended that up to five headquarters staff be laid off, a steering group set up by Mr Rabbitte cut this number to two.

The NUJ/SIPTU letter said the redundancies move had led to an emergency general staff meeting at Labour's Ely Place head office.

"On behalf of our members we are to advise you that our members will not accept the manner or means by which your organisation have taken the decision to dismiss their colleagues."

© The Irish Times