Management at Roscommon County Council has hit back at the Fórsa trade union, which represents county council workers, following a statement last week which threatened one-day strike action on June 21st due to the ongoing flexi-time row.
Fórsa had accused the local authority of “attacking working parents” due to its “refusal to halt its effective ban on flexi-leave” and defying recommendations made by the Labour Court.
A statement from Roscommon County Council accused Fórsa of pulling out of the agreed process for dealing with the dispute.
The statement read: “Roscommon County Council is most disappointed that Fórsa have pulled out of an agreed process for dealing with this dispute and issued strike notice against the Council. Most staff in Roscommon County Council currently avail of 30 days annual leave plus a further 9 bank holidays, plus time in lieu of time worked outside of normal working hours and a significant number of family friendly initiatives i.e. work sharing, shorter working year, force majeure and significant sick pay provision.
“The union is seeking to have an additional 13 flexible days leave per annum resulting in some staff having the potential to avail of in excess of 50 days leave per annum. This additional level of leave can only be generated if there is a clearly defined business need in the first instance.
“For that reason, Roscommon County Council is insisting that mechanisms are put in place to manage such business need events and is adamant that any additional flexi-leave can only be generated on the basis of an agreed business case. This is in the fundamental interest of service delivery and equally in the best interest of the taxpayer of County Roscommon.
“The taxpayer of County Roscommon can be confident and can rest assured that Roscommon County Council will ensure that their hard-earned monies will be deployed in their best interest.
“Roscommon County Council first and foremost has the responsibility of delivering a model of service that is transparent and sustainable for the people of Roscommon”.
