Picket on school is suspended

A picket placed on Aughadrumsee, Co Fermanagh, primary school over the appointment of two Catholic women to posts in the canteen…

A picket placed on Aughadrumsee, Co Fermanagh, primary school over the appointment of two Catholic women to posts in the canteen of the all-Protestant school has been suspended. The appointments by the Western Education and Library Board were made during the summer holidays after two former cooks, both Protestant, retired.

Following a meeting of the WELB, the board of governors of the school and parents, the picket has been temporarily suspended following assurances that the two women would not return to the school this week. The protesters are claiming an imbalance of equality of employment.

However, the Fair Employment Commission says the picketers could be prosecuted and fined if the two women are unable to take up their employment because of the protest.