Quinn ‘ignoring’ claims of ill-treatment on school building projects

Building unions have accused Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn of turning a deaf ear to their claims of ill treatment of workers on new school projects.

Members of the Siptu and Batu trade unions staged protests outside the Department of Education on Marlborough Street today amid allegations that contractors are refusing site access to union officials seeking to assess pay and conditions for their members. The unions say the situation has been exacerbated by the Mr Quinn's inaction on the topic.

“Some contractors have taken an obstructive stance and are refusing to allow trade union organisers on the sites, and we believe it’s because they don’t want us to uncover exploitative pay rates and terms and conditions,” said Siptu organiser Pat McCabe.

"Many workers are now being denied sick pay, death in service and pension benefits as well, all long-established in the industry, and this is wide-ranging across the whole €1.5 billion Department of Education building programme. There are sites in west Dublin, Kildare, Cork and Limerick where we've been denied access."

Mr McCabe said unions had been provided with proof of payslips showing rates of just €10 an hour, despite minimum State standards being set at €15.14 for experienced construction operatives and €17.21 for craft workers. Allegations have also surfaced of workers being forced into declaring bogus self-employment by some contractors.

“There are people here today who have been forced into bogus self-employment where they’re effectively told that they’re not a PAYE or PRSI worker. They don’t fit the criteria, but in order to get a day’s or a week’s work they’re finding themselves forced into that situation,” he said.

Responding to the allegations, the department issued a list of examples where audits were undertaken by the Contractors Administration Service (CAS), a body that conducts audits on departmental building projects, in response to complaints made.

“CAS have completed 16 random audits on school/college construction sites with 1 audit ongoing.

“As a result of the random audits information, five projects have been referred to the Revenue Commissioners, one to the Department of Social and Family Affairs and one to the National Employment Rights Authority,” said a spokesperson for the department, who also outlined a case where the CAS forced a contractor to pay money owed to workers following a discovery of shortfalls in wage payments.

The school building programme commenced in 2012 and aims to provide 219 new schools at all levels across the State before 2017. It was estimated that the works would employ 15,000 people directly and 30,000 indirectly.