Union leaders says CERT doing lousy job

ARCHIVES 1989

CERT, the semi-state body responsible for the training of hotel and catering staff, had been accused at blackguarding young people and of doing a “lousy” job.

Killarney ITGWU secretary Patsy Cronin also accused CERT of leading young people astray.

He said certificates which trainees received after ten-week courses were not worth the paper they were written on.

“It's sad the way youngsters are being blackguarded the way they are by CERT, having their hopes raised but being given certificates which are of no value whatsoever,” said Mr. Cronin.

He claimed there was a crisis looming in the area of hotel staffing because of what he described as CERT'S failure to provide proper training courses.

“Their failure in this regard is a contributory factor in dragging down standards in the entire industry, said Mr. Cronin.

“In our opinion, it is not a satisfactory situation whereby youngsters are brought in for training and in the course of nine or ten weeks are expected to become waiters, barmen, housegirls, etc,” he said.

The union's hotel committee in Kerry had for a year and a half been seeking a meeting with CERT to discuss this matter.

“They have failed miserable to respond to us,” said Mr. Cronin.

However, CERT spokesman Bob Frizelle strongly rebutted these criticisms. “I really can't understand his criticisms or why he is making them,” said Mr. Frizelle.

“As regards the short training courses to which Patsy Croning refers, their purpose is to give people basic skills.

“All they are are trainees and the course doesn't pretend to be anything more than that,” he said.

Replying to the criticism about not meeting with the union branch to discuss the matter, he said: “This is a national thing. Our council has two members of Patsy's union and, at any rate, we can't go discussing matters like this with every branch around the country.”