Fórsa trade union and Tusla will attend talks at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) today in an effort to resolve a dispute over the staffing of the Rathmines women’s refuge.
Fórsa referred the case to the WRC because it says Tusla has breached the current public service agreement by failing to consult with staff before a decision to outsource the management of the refuge to a separate agency.
The refuge closed in September 2017 for renovations. The refuge’s 15 staff members were temporarily redeployed to other Tusla employments while the renovations took place.
When work on the building was completed in September last year, the union said Tusla took no steps to inform the staff on its plans to re-open the refuge.
The refuge provides ten family spaces to women and their children who are experiencing domestic violence.
When work on the building was completed in September last year, the union said Tusla took no steps to inform the staff on its plans to re-open the refuge.
Fórsa official Tony Martin explained: “We made several attempts to establish an opening date for the refuge and a clear schedule for these 15 highly experienced women to return to work there, which they were keen to do.
“Instead we were informed by Tusla of its decision to outsource the management of the refuge to a separate agency. In the absence of any consultation with staff we had no option to refer this to the WRC on the basis that it breaches the requirement for consultation contained in the Public Service Stability Agreement (PSSA),” he said.
The absence of the refuge since September 2017 has been described by Women’s Aid as a “key gap” in service provision for women experiencing domestic violence.
Mr Martin said the union’s aim is to ensure the 15 staff are returned to their posts at the refuge as soon as possible. He said the absence of the refuge since September 2017 has been described by Women’s Aid as a “key gap” in service provision for women experiencing domestic violence.
“These are a highly experienced group of staff who delivered a vital and very sensitive service. Their demands are very simple, they just want to return to work to continue delivering that service.
“Tusla has offered no explanation as to why it has looked to a separate agency to run the refuge. It has declined offers to engage and discuss the issue. We’ve made it clear that we’re available to discuss any outstanding issues once we can re-establish this group of staff to their posts,” he said.
The WRC meeting is scheduled to commence at 12 noon today (Thursday 31st January).