Talks aimed at resolving staffing crisis at Oberstown detention campus break down

Industrial action at Oberstown Children Detention Campus will continue today with union members due to take part in an 8 hour work stoppage, beginning at 9am and running until 5pm.

The action is due to a continuing dispute over resourcing and safe staffing at the campus and is the second in a series of planned weekly work stoppages.

Despite local engagement which was described by union officials as “solution focused” union negotiators and Oberstown management were not able to reach agreement on key issues.

The union expressed frustration that no representative of Department of Children (DCDE) present.

The ongoing industrial action follows a ballot of Fórsa members, concluded in May, backing industrial action, up to and including a full withdrawal of labour. Oberstown staff have been engaged in a work-to-rule action since 25th June.

Oberstown management has been notified of further work stoppages on Tuesday 18th August and Tuesday 25th August.

Fórsa national secretary Hazel Nolan said:

“Safe staffing in Oberstown has been a long-standing concern for staff, and our members are taking action because they want a lasting solution.

“We agree with management that staff safety and the safety of the young people in Oberstown are inseparable.

“Unfortunately, talks have broken down because Oberstown is refusing to include key elements of our claim in the business case going to the Department.

“This includes measures to address the recruitment difficulties facing the service.

“Management says these issues should be dealt with separately through ‘local bargaining’, while also acknowledging that there is not enough money allocated to the local bargaining budget to resolve them”.

“Fórsa cannot enter a process when we know from the outset that it cannot resolve the claim. Our members need a genuine, long-term solution to safe staffing, and that is what we will continue to pursue.”