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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Embassy staff threaten to strike | Embassy staff threaten to strike |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Staff at the British Embassy in Dublin may strike next week over a proposal to issue three colleagues with compulsory redundancy notices. | Staff at the British Embassy in Dublin may strike next week over a proposal to issue three colleagues with compulsory redundancy notices. |
| Members of the Unite trade union have begun balloting for industrial action at the embassy in Ballsbridge. | Members of the Unite trade union have begun balloting for industrial action at the embassy in Ballsbridge. |
| It follows a meeting attended by about 80% of the embassy's 45 union members. | It follows a meeting attended by about 80% of the embassy's 45 union members. |
| But in a statement issued on Tuesday, the Embassy said no redundancy notices had been issued to staff and a strike would be "unnecessary and regrettable". | But in a statement issued on Tuesday, the Embassy said no redundancy notices had been issued to staff and a strike would be "unnecessary and regrettable". |
| "We are disappointed to hear that staff have voted to ballot for strike action," the statement said. | "We are disappointed to hear that staff have voted to ballot for strike action," the statement said. |
| "We have followed established consultation procedures throughout and will continue to operate in full compliance with Irish labour law. | |
| "Three of our 53 locally engaged staff are affected, and three UK based diplomats." | |
| The statement said that if redundancies proved necessary, the package offered would meet the requirements of Irish labour law. | |
| Dublin is the only British embassy to recognise trade union membership. It agreed procedures with unions in 2003 to deal with issues and disputes. | Dublin is the only British embassy to recognise trade union membership. It agreed procedures with unions in 2003 to deal with issues and disputes. |
| It is understood that the decision to reduce staff numbers was taken in London. Unions said this falls outside the agreed terms. | It is understood that the decision to reduce staff numbers was taken in London. Unions said this falls outside the agreed terms. |
| The three Irish workers, who have a total of 20 years' service between them, deal with UK trade and investment matters in Ireland. | The three Irish workers, who have a total of 20 years' service between them, deal with UK trade and investment matters in Ireland. |
| Anger | Anger |
| Unite regional officer Colm Quinlan said: "There was a lot of anger at today's meeting over the manner in which this decision was arrived at and was communicated to staff. | Unite regional officer Colm Quinlan said: "There was a lot of anger at today's meeting over the manner in which this decision was arrived at and was communicated to staff. |
| "The ambassador and his staff have shown complete disregard for the Irish Labour Relations Commission through which this should have been negotiated." | "The ambassador and his staff have shown complete disregard for the Irish Labour Relations Commission through which this should have been negotiated." |
| The results of the ballot are due at the beginning of next week. | The results of the ballot are due at the beginning of next week. |