16 January 1997 Edition
300 face lay-off in Armagh
By Eoin O Broin
Up to 300 hospital workers employed by the Armagh and Dungannon Trust face redundancy. Speaking to An Phoblacht local Unison representative, and forthcoming Sinn Féin local election candidate, Sean McGirr attacked the Trust for putting cutbacks before staff welfare.
The redundancy scheme, which at present is voluntary, is expected to be phased in over the coming months, and will mainly affect low-paid nursing staff. McGirr said that the scheme was ``deliberately being denied to pension-age staff so that the hospital wouldn't have to fork out the £10,000 severence pay on top of pensions''.
``The Trust is facing a financial crisis, with a £900,000 overspend,'' said McGirr. ``But as usual it is the staff who are bearing the brunt of government and Trust mismanagement.''
Unison members, in dispute with the private health company Compass, gave out leaflets on Wednesday to members of the public attending the Employment Opportunities Jobs Fair in Belfast's new Waterfront Hall. The exhibition, which is designed to promote job opportunities in the Six Counties, included a Compass stall. Unison spokesperson Patricia McKeown told An Phoblacht:: ``What Compass are failing to tell the public is that they have made enormous profits by exploiting the workforce. We doubt whether its jobs are the kind the people of Northern Ireland need or want.''
Up to 300 hospital workers employed by the Armagh and Dungannon Trust face redundancy. Speaking to An Phoblacht local Unison representative, and forthcoming Sinn Féin local election candidate, Sean McGirr attacked the Trust for putting cutbacks before staff welfare.
The redundancy scheme, which at present is voluntary, is expected to be phased in over the coming months, and will mainly affect low-paid nursing staff. McGirr said that the scheme was ``deliberately being denied to pension-age staff so that the hospital wouldn't have to fork out the £10,000 severence pay on top of pensions''.
``The Trust is facing a financial crisis, with a £900,000 overspend,'' said McGirr. ``But as usual it is the staff who are bearing the brunt of government and Trust mismanagement.''
Unison members, in dispute with the private health company Compass, gave out leaflets on Wednesday to members of the public attending the Employment Opportunities Jobs Fair in Belfast's new Waterfront Hall. The exhibition, which is designed to promote job opportunities in the Six Counties, included a Compass stall. Unison spokesperson Patricia McKeown told An Phoblacht:: ``What Compass are failing to tell the public is that they have made enormous profits by exploiting the workforce. We doubt whether its jobs are the kind the people of Northern Ireland need or want.''