Cliffs of Moher staff to strike after pay talks break down

SIPTU MEMBERS at the Cliffs of Moher are to strike from next Thursday following the collapse of pay talks with management at the visitor attraction.

The dispute centres on a 2010 Labour Court recommendation that workers receive the same pay and conditions as their counterparts in Clare County Council. The attraction, operated by council subsidiary, Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre Ltd, has refused to abide by the recommendation.

Siptu last month suspended planned industrial action over the company’s refusal to implement the recommendation to allow talks to take place under the auspices of the Labour Relations Commission.

However, the talks have broken down and Siptu yesterday served the seven-day strike notice for next Thursday.

Siptu organiser Tony Kenny said yesterday: “Unfortunately, we are left with no alternative at this point in time.”

Mr Kenny said the company had refused to return to the Labour Court to find a resolution.

He said: “It is most disappointing that this employer, a wholly owned subsidiary of Clare County Council, not alone refuses to implement a Labour Court recommendation, but now refuses to even return to the Labour Court to prevent a dispute.”

He pointed out that visitor numbers at the Cliffs of Moher have increased by 19 per cent for the first six months of this year, rising from 291,085 to 345,398.

However, a spokeswoman for the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre Ltd said yesterday that if the company were to implement the recommendation, it would result in 13 jobs losses and impose an annual cost of €400,000.

The spokeswoman confirmed it received the notice of industrial action following Siptu’s rejection of the company’s offer of a 5 per cent lump sum performance pay award at the commission as well as increased sick leave and Sunday and bank holiday premiums.

The spokeswoman said that the company sought to find an agreed negotiated alternative to the recommendation at the commission talks.

She said: “While 2011 has seen some recovery in visitor numbers, these had fallen by 23 per cent between 2007 and 2010, resulting in significant losses at the centre.

“The offer of the pay award was subject to business performance at the centre continuing to perform well throughout the summer season.”

Since 2007, accumulated losses at the centre have topped €600,000.