Press Release

New City Council Arrangements Do Not Undermine Workers' Action

Commenting on the City Council's decision to change its meeting times to the afternoon, in response to the ongoing work to rule by IMPACT members of council staff, Sinn Féin councillor Jonathan O'Brien said it was not designed to undermine the workers' action.

He stated: "Sinn Féin is opposed to cutting the pay of low and medium paid public service workers, who make up the bulk of IMPACTs membership. We support the right of the workers to take this action and have no wish to undermine it."

"However we also have a duty as councillors to carry out the job we were elected to do and represent the people of the city. Since the withdrawal of administrative services outside of normal working hours leaves the council unable to meet after 5pm, we were forced to move the council meeting to an earlier time. The alternative would have been to hold no council meetings for an indefinite period. This would have left us in breach of the duty we owe to those who elected us."

"The Sinn Féin councillors met with the shop steward representing administrative staff on the council and the union representative made it clear they had no difficulty with the council's decision."