Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
THE COMPANIES OPERATING the state’s three emergency 999 call centres have questioned claims that a strike by operators will not affect the provision of emergency services.
Workers in the Navan centre are striking for 12 hours today in a dispute over pay, working conditions and trade union rights.
The Communications Workers’ Union has assured members of the public that the action will not impact on emergency answering services as two other centres will continue to operate as usual.
However, Conduit Global and BT Ireland said this morning that the union “cannot make promises to the public about what will happen to the service as it does not have a role in contingency planning”.
The third centre remains open this morning, they said, and an extra fourth site has been set up to give operators a choice of location to avoid what they called “the large numbers of unaffiliated protesters that the CWU have apparently invited along”.
The companies also criticised the union for not revealing how many members it has in the call centres.
It said the CWU had claimed that 84% of members supported the strike in a recent ballot but not clarified the specific number of workers who backed the vote.
“In effect, a non-recognised union has gone into a company, has not revealed its membership in that company, and brought about industrial action,” they said in a joint statement.
‘Disappointed’
The companies said earlier that there are 55 operators in total working on the emergency all answering service, spread across three counties on day and night shifts, and that it believed no more than 12 operators would therefore be protesting.
But Ian McArdle of the CWU disputed this figure on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, saying over 75% of staff at the Navan centre were union members.
The union is seeking a living staff wage of €11.50 an hour, collective bargaining rights, a fair on-call policy and an end to “punitive” suspensions.
Conduit Global has said it is “very disappointed” to see industrial action going ahead.
The stoppage began at 8am this morning and will continue until 8pm tonight.
The Department of Communications awarded the emergency call service contract to BT Ireland in 2009 before it was outsourced to Conduit Global.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Seriously lads who edits these articles. There’s literally a typo in the first sentence. “One her case”
@gordon o loughlin: that’s the best won I’ve seen for a while.
@gordon o loughlin: They just fixed it. I wonder will they thank you for your help.
@gordon o loughlin: primary school students. Fifth class, I think
@Joe Phillips: The headline is fixed but the first line of the article still has “one”
@gordon o loughlin: my very 1st thoughts…disgraceful ” Journal- ism” …Again.
@Brian Cunningham: and still not a word of thanks or even acknowledgment from the author. Some man, Cianan
Well done Rebecca. Now go fulfill your dreams.
@Liam Byrne: There’s a high likelihood that this girl will quit veterinary after working for a few years. The dropout rate for females vets, especially in large animal medicine, is exceptionally high.
@Andy Dwyer: You’d be a crap cheerleader.
@Andy Dwyer: naysayer
@Slim Shady: best one liner on the journal in a long time!
@Andy Dwyer: so true. The drop out rates need to be published for every course. Give a true picture of what you are in for.
@Andy Dwyer: ah god negative already u would be a great expert in the job of being an idiot
Fair play, have huge admiration for this kid!
@The Risen: yes and another fellow who won over a mask, petty officials wasting our hard earned cash..what minister allows all this to happen
She’s a champion! Good on her and her family for driving this through. Best of luck with your studies!
Great stuff! Best news this week. I hope it inspires the whole country to start taking on what is unacceptable from service providers.
@Pat Kelly: I’m going to sound really bitter and horrible but the sad reality is, if this happened to someone from a poor economic background they would not have the money to take it to the high court. Sorry but it is true.
@Lisa Byrne: Tis a sad fact though, Lisa. Most would have to stop short of takin’ it that far
@Lisa Byrne: they could apply for legal aid in that event
@Karen Ni Riada: No,sorry the legal advice board has limited to scope in which cases it can provide assistance. As from what I can see it doesn’t cover this type of case. I could be wrong. But I looked on the legal advice board.
@Lisa Byrne: The truth usually hurts
@Lisa Byrne: yes but she took on an unfair system and won which is to the benefit of every student in the future no matter what their economic position is
@Lisa Byrne: that is probably true but the good thing is that now there is a precedent and you can bet appeals will be more accessible in the future.
So rather than blaming this family for doing right by their daughter maybe we should thank them for taking the case and potentially helping others in the future.
People shouldn’t judge each other so much Some people raised “rich” get nothing and are abused. Some people raised “poor” get amazing opportunities and are surrounded by love.
The mere fact you judge these guys based on their socio economic background says more about you than them.
@hyippy: did I blame her for being rich, I didn’t judge her, made no personal attack on her. Merely stated the truth those from poor socio economic backgrounds would not have been able to afford a high court action. Future student could appeal sure, but how many years will it take to change the system?
@Pat Kelly: yes and the other fellow who went to work wearing an anti flu mask with someone’s brazen puss on it..
@Lisa Byrne: She’s 18, she was legally aided.
Ever heard of the Legal Aid Board.
@Teresa Ryan: Yes and as I said they don’t provide assistance for this type of case.
She will be on the Late Late show soon.
Doubt if a young girl from finglas would have the means to fight a similar case.
@Mick Slator: give it a rest. OH but poor oh but the homeless oh but less fortunate. Change the tune brother.
@Mick Slator: I think the means are a small part of it, it’s her confidence and focused determination that pushed it forward. Truly impressive and the kind of quality you cannot buy or teach.
That’s what we all need more of.
@David McShite: You can have all the determination in the world but without the means you wont get this into a high court.
@David McShite: they don’t have that in Finglas either ;-)
Delighted for her, she will make a wonderful vet!
@Colette Kearns: How do you know that? Maybe she’ll have a fear of shoving her arm up a cow’s uterus?
@TheHeathen: nobody is afraid of that
@Colette Kearns: will she wear a mask do you think
@TheHeathen: No vet shoves any part of their anatomy up a cow’s “uterus”. The examination is done via the rectum.
Seriously lads who edits these articles. There’s literally a typo in the first sentence. “One her case”
Bravo Rebecca.
@Lisa Byrne – you are really horrible,sad,bitter etc because if you study the case you will see that the precedent has now been established and will apply to future students in similar circumstances.
In future no student, whether rich or poor, need worry about being treated in this appalling manner & will thank Rebecca for her determination and courage.
Delighted for this young lady and for her family who had the tenacity and determination to take on two backward and unjust institutions.
This is such great news and a very happy ending just as it should be. Forget the red tape and bureaucracy…a mistake was made, she found it and fought for her place, and now is going to college this year rather than a deferred year. All’s well that ends well!
Good for her. Delighted that she didn’t settle for ridiculous excuses why anyone should miss their chance at an education.
She should run for president at this stage with the amount of press she has got !!
@Drive for show & putt for dough: She’d make a more interesting candidate than most of the current crop….
A hero. It takes guts to go to court.
Ok it’s gone on long enough now , just get on with it instead of 15 mins of fame
Now sue the SEC and the Minister for damages…..
Yes there has been additions errors in exams my daughter was one point away fro what she wanted to study but we did not have the money to pursue a check
@Anastasia: it’s €40
A lesson in fight for what you believe is right!!! Good on you Rebecca …. paving the way for others!! Old systems which are now not fit for purpose ….. 2 months taken to correct results for students …. only in the public system! The very best of luck to you ….. be proud of yourself Rebecca … cos you should be !!! X
What about all the other kids who are having a recheck because they consider their scripts have been marked incorrectly, they have to wait til the end of October and if an error is discovered they have to wait a year to start their course. Unfair. Does each student have to go to court for fairness?
A lesson in fight for what you believe is right!!! Good on you Rebecca …. paving the way for others!! Old systems which are now not fit for purpose ….. 2 months taken to correct results for students …. only in the public system !!!!!!! The very best of luck to you ….. be proud of yourself Rebecca … as you should be !!! X
“Sped” up?????
You have done the state some service!
Now don’t let it get to your head, stop reading the journal and get stuck in to veterinary science!
A lesson in fight for what you believe is right!!! Good on you Rebecca …. paving the way for others!! Old systems which are now not fit for purpose ….. 2 months taken to correct results for students …. only in the public system! The very best of luck to you ….. be proud of yourself Rebecca … as you should be !!! X
It shouldn’t happen in the first place…and how come that you actually have to go to the high court to getting incorrectly counted points corrected….somehow wrong!
have your say