IWU seeks Unfair Dismissals amendment

BY JOANNE CORCORAN

The Independent Workers' Union is campaigning for an amendment to the Unfair Dismissals legislation, which will see the period from which a sacked employee can take a dismissals case reduced to three months. Currently, a worker can only claim unfair dismissal after 12 months and the Union says that many employers are taking advantage of this timeframe by firing people who seek better conditions during their first year of employment.

As part of its campaign, the union asked Cork City Council to propose a motion concerning an amendment at their monthly meeting two weeks ago.

The motion was supported by Sinn Féin's two city councillors, Jonathon O'Brien and Annette Spillane, as well as one Socialist and two Labour councillors.

It was defeated, however, by the combined force of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and another Labour councillor.

Damien Wallace of Fianna Fáil said that he, as an employer, took exception to the motion.

Speaking to An Phoblacht last week, O'Brien said he didn't feel that being sacked after working for eleven months for an employer was fair.

"I've heard of cases where people have asked for pay rises and been sacked just short of a year," he said. "If employers act fairly, they have nothing to fear from this amendment. "This proposal from the IWU is about creating fair conditions for both parties in work situations."