SIPTU condemns FÁS decision to sack over 50 contract workers
Forty-six FÁS instructors and six general staff on temporary contracts are being let go without any compensation, according to SIPTU.
The cutbacks are part of a plan by the state training agency to deliver savings of 3% in its wage bill to meet the Government's public-sector targets.
The staff members received the news at the same time as they learned through the media that the organisation's former director general is reported likely to receive a 'golden handshake' worth at least €300,000.
The staff members affected earn between €27,000 and €51,000. They were told they would be let go in December but, following representations by SIPTU Branch Organiser Brendan O'Brien, they are being allowed to remain in their jobs until after Christmas.
Mr O'Brien is referring the sackings to the Labour Relations Commission to see if any jobs can be saved and at least obtain some compensation for the 52 workers concerned.
"FÁS management said we were wasting our time going to the LRC and the decision was final, but we are determined to save these jobs if we can and to highlight the double standards it reveals about how ordinary FÁS employees are treated compared with senior management", Mr O'Brien stated this afternoon.
"A number of those facing dismissal have actually accumulated enough service to be made permanent and one of them has worked seven years for FÁS, but management seems intent on disregarding even the statutory rights of these workers. In fact, in one instance we found they had already dismissed one of the workers."
