This article is from page 4 of the 2008-01-22 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 4 JPG
THE way is now clear for the smooth relocation of 300 staff to Clare Coun- ty Council’s €27 million HQ after a dispute with IMPACT has been re- solved — for now.
Last month, IMPACT members voted four to one for industrial action in relation to disciplinary procedures that the council have in place.
The vote threatened to disrupt the council’s relocation from_ offices around Ennis back to the recently completed HQ, which is set to be
open to the public on Wednesday.
However, the vote by 130 members of its 270 strong membership at the council overwhelmingly voted for industrial action.
In response to the threat of industri- al action, the two sides met last week and agreed to refer the council’s con- tentious disciplinary procedures to a third party.
The third party will be a profession- al in the industrial relations field.
According to a spokesman for IM- PACT, the union are anxious that members be afforded proper union
representation in disciplinary proce- dures and that the employees be made aware of allegations before them.
The spokesman said that an issue that will be addressed by the third party will be staff transfers with only 24 hours notice as a means of disci- plining a staff member.
The IMPACT spokesman said: ‘The council denies that the transfers are carried out to discipline people, but we take a different view.”
The spokesman said that the dis- pute had the potential to disrupt the council’s relocation if it was not re-
solved.
He added: “We are asking that the council deal with people in a civi- lised way.”
The major logistical exercise of re- locating to the council’s new HQ was continuing last night.
As well as providing office accom- modation for 300 staff, the new cor- porate headquarters incorporates a number of environmentally friendly measures and will operate as a natu- rally ventilated building. Some solar panels and a wood chip heating sys- tem have been installed.