Navan-based 999 operators to go on strike
999 call operators in Navan are to go on strike again in a row over pay and conditions.
Workers will not answer emergency calls for a 12-hour period on Thursday the April 7.
However, other 999 call centres in Dublin and Ballyshannon are expected to operate as normal.
Conduit Global, who run the service, have said they “strongly regret” the decision by the Communications Workers Union to take industrial action.
They have also accused the CWU of “choosing to place its own interests over critical public services”.
CWU general secretary, Steve Fitzpatrick, has called on BT/Conduit Global to avoid a serious escalation of industrial action at the 999 call centres by engaging directly with the CWU.
He said: “BT/Conduit’s intransigence during this dispute and their recklessness towards the 999 call service has forced our members into taking further industrial action just to achieve minimum acceptable standards in their workplace.
“It’s beyond belief that two profitable multinational corporations are unable to find the money to give low-paid workers who do an important and stressful job an extra 50 cent per hour.
“These corporations engage constructively with unions in their operations elsewhere yet are refusing to respect the wishes of workers in the 999 call service here to be represented by their union, the CWU.
“This action can be avoided if BT/Conduit engage constructively with the CWU.
“We have told BT/Conduit that we are prepared to deal with them directly or under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission. We hope they take us up on that offer.”
