Community sector workers held a protest outside the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government on Wednesday (18th February) to highlight the Department’s drive to privatise community social inclusion programmes.

Hundreds of community workers from the across the State attended the protest, during which a large ‘Department of Silence’ banner was placed on the walls of the Custom House to highlight the Department’s refusal to talk to workers.

SIPTU Community Sector activist, Donnie O’Leary, said: “Workers across the country are being placed on protective notice with some having already been made redundant. In the face of the Department’s intransigence the union has been left with no option but to commence a protective ballot to defend our jobs under transfer of undertakings legislation.”

SIPTU Sector Organiser, Eddie Mullins, said: “We are calling on the Minister for the Environment, Alan Kelly, a Labour Minister and Deputy Leader of his party, to respect the recommendation of the Labour Court and direct his Department to immediately engage meaningfully with community sector workers through our union. At these talks our concerns over privatisation, terms and conditions of employment and job losses must be addressed.”