SIPTU calls on USI to lift worker's suspension

national | worker & community struggles and protests | press release Tuesday July 25, 2006 12:27 by Barry Finnegan - personal capacity finnegan.barry at gmail dot com

SIPTU has called the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) to immediately lift an unfair suspension of a manager employed by USI.

[BF, personal opinion: Check this out - USI, supposedly a "Union" to protect and advance student's rights as well as being an official affiliate of SIPTU charged with advancing trade union rights, when it's bosses weren't able to harass and bully this employee to their satisfaction, they suspended him without pay. If all the details of this case go public next month after the Rights Commissioner, it is going to have a devastating impact on those who still believe that the USI is a progressive social force in Ireland. To date The Examiner and Irish Indo have carried the story.]

Cc: "EDUCATION BRANCH (R1)"
For immediate release: July 21, 2006
For the attention of the News Editor and Industrial Correspondent

SIPTU CALLS ON THE UNION OF STUDENTS IN IRELAND TO LIFT WORKER'S SUSPENSION

SIPTU has called the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) to immediately lift an unfair suspension of a manager employed by USI.

SIPTU's Education Branch Organiser, Ms Chris Rowland said the worker concerned has a good employment record with the USI.

"The USI acted in a wholly unacceptable manner in suspending this worker - completely outside due process and fair procedures," she said. "The worker has been denied access to employment since June 20, 2006 and has had no income to support himself or his family since then.

"SIPTU has requested that the worker be immediately re-instated or at least paid his wages while on suspension pending an investigation of the case by a Rights Commissioner – scheduled for August 10, 2006, but USI management has refused to lift the suspension or pay the employee while suspended.

"We expect a higher standard of employment practice from an organisation like the Union of Students in Ireland," she concluded.

-end-

For further information contact:

Chris Rowland at 01-85656419 or 087-6776744
Barbara Kelly
Public Relations Official
Direct: 01-8586374
Mobile: 087-6776324
Fax: 01-8747277