SIPTU members vote for strike action in St James’s Hospital car parking dispute
SIPTU members in St James’s Hospital, Dublin, have voted overwhelmingly to take strike action in response to a management attempt to impose an annual €500 car parking fee on health workers.
SIPTU Health Divisional Organiser, Paul Bell, said: “SIPTU members, across all departments and grades in the hospital, have shown full support and solidarity for our campaign to oppose this unjust charge. In a ballot counted today (Thursday, 11th February) 93% of those who participated voted to take strike action.
“The attempt by management to unilaterally impose such an excessive car parking charge on workers at the beginning of 2016 is totally unacceptable. Most of these workers have no other option but to drive by car to their place of work.”
He added: “A decision will be made in the coming days concerning the date and duration of the strike action. During this period, SIPTU representatives remain available for meaningful discussions with management which are aimed at satisfactorily addressing members’ concerns.”
SIPTU Organiser, David Field, said: “Workers throughout St James’s Hospital were outraged when senior management attempted to introduce a punitive €500 charge for car parking without consultation with their union. By standing together to oppose this attempt to impose such an excessive charge, workers across all grades have shown management they must engage constructively with them and show them the respect they deserve.