SIPTU MEMBERS AT Roscommon County Council have told management that they will join their colleagues in the Fórsa trade union on the picket lines.

Siptu yesterday served notice of industrial action on the council in support of their Fórsa colleagues.

Fórsa staff have already carried out four one-day strikes in a dispute over the refusal of management to allow staff work up extra hours that would allow them accumulate up to 13 days leave per year.

Council management has argued that there was no business requirement for the overtime in many cases and the system had to be managed.

Siptu organiser Maurice Hearne, said: “Clerical and administration staff represented by Fόrsa have been engaged in four full-day work stoppages since late June. The dispute concerns the restoration of a flexitime scheme which has not been available to staff since early 2017.

“The 14-day notice of industrial action served yesterday by our members will mean that almost 50 engineers and planners employed by Roscommon County Council will be joining these work stoppages unless a fair resolution to the dispute is found.

“Engineers and planners did not have access to the flexitime scheme until the Labour Court in a binding decision in 2016 stated the arrangements should also apply to these grades. Despite this, and subsequent clarifications from the Labour Court, management has effectively suspended the scheme for all staff.

“Our members are very disappointed and concerned that the scheme, which is so important to staff with young families or dependant relatives, remains suspended despite the findings of the Labour Court.”

Fórsa has said it will continue its industrial action if the council does not commit to restarting talks overseen.