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Operators will strike next Saturday 28 September. Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland

Speed camera van operators to strike next week in dispute over working conditions

Workers claim they are working in dangerous conditions and confined to speed vans for several hours.

WORKERS AT GoSafe Ireland, the company which manages speed cameras around Ireland on behalf of the State, are set to go on strike for 24-hours next week in a dispute over working conditions. 

Siptu Trade Union, which represents the workers, said its members were “left with no option” claiming management have “refused to address their concerns relating to health and safety and their conditions of employment”. 

Workers claim they are working in dangerous conditions, confined to speed vans for several hours, forced to take lunch while monitoring the machinery, and reduced to urinating in a bottle due to a lack of toilet facilities in the vans. 

The union, which represents half of the company’s speed van operators said up to 35 workers will engage in the 24-hour-long work stoppage. 

“Our members have been left with no option other than to conduct this work stoppage. They are aware of the implications this will have on the vital role they play in road safety” Brendan Carr, Siptu organiser said. 

“Our members are only taking this action as a last resort because of the intransigence of management who have refused to address their concerns.

“[Workers] can be confined to their van for up to 11 hours while conducting their duties. This results in workers being placed under extreme circumstances while at the same time trying to conduct their crucial road safety service.”

Carr said workers had tried to resolve the issue through the Labour Court but to no avail. 

“These workers have attempted to address these problems through the State industrial relations mechanisms. However, the company has refused to engage with the workers through their union despite the service they provide being fully funded by the State.

“The Labour Court has issued a recommendation saying that the employer should recognise SIPTU as the representative of its employees who are union members but this has been completely ignored by management.”

He said the union wrote to Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan in relation to the worker’s concerns, requesting a meeting with him to seek his assistance. 

“Unfortunately, the Minister declined to intervene, despite the possible serious implications for road safety,” he said. 

While the 28 September is the only day of action planned, Siptu said it is prepared to have rolling work-stoppages in the coming weeks if no resolution is found. 

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    Mute ThomasFrancisMeagher
    Favourite ThomasFrancisMeagher
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    May 5th 2013, 12:39 PM

    The rise of Islamophobia & the re-emergence of Anti-Semitism in Europe is very sad to see. Fear through ignorance is the cause of all types of racism. People fear what/who they don’t know & understand.

    92
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    Mute Genius
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    May 5th 2013, 1:08 PM

    Well you assume all who are sceptic of promoters of jehad and indiscriminate killing of women and children in the west bank are ignorant and racist,That in itself is a stereo typing.I would suggest that a total sense of apathy is not the answer as you suggest.

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    Mute Buckwheat MacMillan
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    May 5th 2013, 1:11 PM

    Global Jihad is nothing at all to be concerned about.

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    Mute Conor Murphy
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    May 5th 2013, 6:21 PM

    @Genius

    There is a difference between Islamaphobia and critiquing islam. Europe undeniably has a huge problem with Islamaphobia.

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    Mute Genius
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    May 5th 2013, 6:52 PM

    @Conor Murphy
    Can you have a guess as to why that might be,Its not a totally unfounded irrational fear.

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    Mute Jason Bourne
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    May 5th 2013, 6:55 PM

    Straight in therw again Thomas!!!!! How do you do it. Its like you are getting paid to watch these articles online. Oh wait……. a go, collect that 2grand. Fair play. Easy money if you can get it

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    Mute Chris
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    May 5th 2013, 12:41 PM

    And we all thought Germany left that behind them and they then call the shots in the rest of Europe shame on them

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    Mute snooch
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    May 5th 2013, 12:48 PM

    129 people in one of the largest states in Europe. Thats like trying to make out what the staff in one tesco store do is what the entire Irish nation do. Backwards blind Germany bashing will most likely be par for course on this article.

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    Mute Anne De Croix
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    May 5th 2013, 3:26 PM

    Ah, where’s my comment gone!

    Like racism in much of the west, pro nazi sentiment is alive and well in modern Germany according to some Germans I met recently.

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    Mute Sean Browne
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    May 5th 2013, 1:44 PM

    Where is the tesco store I’m going to lidl from now on

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    Mute Mark Gaynor
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    May 5th 2013, 7:44 PM

    Now I know why I can’t get a good bagel or falafal in Germany!

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