Strike threat from 200 City Council outdoor staff

Up to 200 outdoor staff with Galway City Council are expected to be balloted next week for all-out strike action in a row over outsourcing of work.

It would leave the city without essential services such as street cleaning and road repairs.
It’s understood the only outdoor service that would be maintained is burials at the city’s two cemeteries.

The SIPTU union informed Council management yesterday (Thursday) of its intention to ballot members for industrial action.

Tensions have been mounting in recent years over cutbacks and under-resourcing. More recently, workers have become extremely concerned about an increasing amount of minor tasks that are being outsourced to the private sector.

It’s understood there are at least 170 outdoor staff who are members of SIPTU.

A union source told the Galway City Tribune that the ballot will be passed unanimously, and that all outdoor services except burials will be ‘pulled’.

A spokesperson for the Council said management hope to meet with union representatives next week.