Five nurses facing redundancy due to the impending closure of a home for visually impaired adult men in Dublin claimed today they faced a lock-out by management when they attempted to meet their union representative, a claim rejected by management at the centre.
The members of the Irish Nurses' Organisation (INO) are based at Clonturk House, Drumcondra, and have been told the facility will close at the end of May because it does not meet the required standards.
Some 24 staff are facing redundancy. Fourteen blind and partially sighted residents, most between 60 and 90, do not yet know where they are to be placed.
INO representative Eddie Matthews said the five members of staff were locked out of their place of work when they attempted to hold a meeting with him this morning to discuss their rights and entitlements in the face of redundancy. Management at the home denied the nurses had been locked out of their employment today and said it was not a suitable venue for holding a union meeting.
“In an extraordinary act of disrespect to long serving employees, and their representative, management firstly refused entry to the building and then blocked the entrance to the grounds with a van which caused an entirely unsafe situation to develop,” Mr Matthews said.
“The nurses, who have worked in this centre, some of them for up to 13 years, were simply seeking to discuss their futures with their trade union representative and the actions of management are extremely suspicious and utterly disappointing.”
Mr Matthews claimed security staff refused him permission to enter the building when he arrived to meet his members. Staff members arriving to meet him were also refused permission to park their cars in the car park and the gateway was blocked by a van, he said.
Mr Matthews told The Irish Timeshe had never previously witnessed such an incident in the course of his work as a union representative. "This is unprecedented in any public body," he said.
He said he and the staff members concerned had withdrawn from Clonturk House to hold their meeting in a local hotel.
“INO members are incensed and are considering balloting for industrial action in light of this most reprehensible act on the part of their employer.
“Our members are committed, as they have been for many years, to meeting the needs of the clients at Clonturk House, and this act of disrespect speaks volumes about the management, and their commitment.”
St Joseph’s Centre for the Visually Impaired, which took over managerial responsibility for Clonturk House from the Rosminian Fathers last June, said earlier this week the home was in poor repair and had a leaking roof. St Joseph’s chief executive, Brian Allen, said an “unrealistic amount of money” would be needed.
A spokeswoman for St Joseph's said management had never dealt with the INO and had, until yesterday, not heard from the union in relation to representing members at Clonturk House. Management had, however, dealt with the Impact trade union in respect of two of its members working there. Four other members of staff joined Impact yesterday.
The spokeswoman said Mr Allen rejected the claims made by the INO today and that no agreement was sought to hold a meeting in Clonturk House
She said the staff members this morning were not "locked out" of their place of work and that four of them were not due to work today. A fifth member of staff had notified management at 8.30am that she intended to go to a union meeting and cover could not be found to replace that member of staff at half an hour's notice.
The spokeswoman said those who were attending the meeting had been told it was "entirely unsuitable" for holding a union meeting as it is a home for blind men.
"If and when the INO approach Clonturk House requesting permission to hold a meeting they will be accommodated in the assembly hall of St. Joseph’s Centre for the Visually Impaired, causing no disruption to clients."
The spokeswoman said the assertion regarding the van blocking the entrance was "ridiculous" and that a gardener working on the premises was clearing "debris and shrubbery" into the back of the van at the time.