Minister must resolve Oberstown dispute before it escalates further
Minister must resolve Oberstown dispute before it escalates further - The Labour Party
- Unsafe staffing pressures at Oberstown cannot continue
Labour Fingal West TD Rob O’Donoghue has called for urgent Ministerial intervention in the escalating industrial dispute at Oberstown Children Detention Campus in his constituency, as Fórsa members undertake a 12-hour strike today over staffing and resourcing concerns, ahead of a planned 48-hour stoppage from Monday 31 August.
Deputy O’Donoghue said:
“Workers at Oberstown have reached the point where they feel they have no option but to withdraw their labour. That should set alarm bells ringing for the Minister.
“This is now the fourth in a series of weekly work stoppages. The dispute is escalating and the Government cannot continue to stand back and allow the situation to deteriorate.
“Oberstown is in my constituency and I am deeply concerned by what workers are telling us about the pressures they face. They carry out incredibly demanding work in a challenging environment, working with young people who need care, stability and support. They deserve the staffing levels and resources necessary to do that work properly and safely.
“A strike next week would represent a further serious escalation of this dispute. Nobody benefits from allowing it to reach that point. The Minister must intervene now, engage directly with the issues at the heart of this dispute and ensure there is a credible plan to address staffing and resourcing at Oberstown.”