New jobs scheme hit by union trouble

May 1983

The Government’s Social Employment Scheme, which started in Wexford on Monday, immediately ran into problems when the ITGWU demanded that they had to join the union.

But the men - taken off the dole to work forty hours a fortnight, for a payment of £70 per week - say they won’t join as they can’t afford to pay the £1.25 a week union contribution.

They also say they will resist any attempt to have the money deducted from their earnings, which is already subject to income tax.

They claim that they were told by the ITGWU branch secretary that they would be dismissed from the scheme if they didn’t join the union.

But according to Wexford County Council Secretary, Bill Creedon, there is no clause in the men’s contracts that stipulates they must be union members.

He did say however that the Council had to get the approval of the trade union before the scheme was launched. ‘So I am not surprised that they are trying to recruit new members now,’ he said.

The men are currently employed cleaning up five old graveyards. A spokesman said they felt strongly on the matter, and would be taking it up with public representatives.

They have already contacted Ald. Philip Kelly, who said that the situation seemed ‘ridiculous’.

‘ They are getting little enough as it is. It certainly would not pay them to work if they had any further deductions from what they are getting at present,’ he said.