Ten women who have been picketing the Custom House in Dublin since July 1st have resolved their dispute today.
The dispute started last May when the 10 contract cleaners were informed they would not be re-employed under the same terms and conditions after the Department of Environment awarded a new cleaning contract for the Custom House to the company Schorman Ltd.
The cleaners, represented by Siptu, refused to accept the new terms and conditions, including a reduction of working hours, and Schorman Ltd informed them they would not be employed when the company took over the contract on July 1st.
Siptu argued that the company had breached its responsibilities under the terms of the Transfer of Undertakings (TUPE) procedures.
Under the today’s settlement it was agreed a new company, G4S, would take over the Custom House cleaning contact and the ten cleaners would preserve the terms and conditions they previously enjoyed.
Siptu’s Dublin regional secretary Patricia King called today’s settlement “a welcome victory”.
“It was a victory for a courageous group of women and their supporters. It shows the value of union organisation in a sector that is rife with exploitation,” Ms King added.
