An industrial action ballot of local authority library staff is set to get underway next week if management proceeds with plans to pilot staffless libraries in a further 23 locations across the state. IMPACT, which is preparing to meet management on the issue next week, has also called an information meeting in Dublin next Monday. It is open to all IMPACT members working in the library service.
Meanwhile, the executive committees of the two IMPACT divisions concerned – the local government and municipal employees divisions – are finalising plans for a dispute following a meeting of the union’s Libraries Vocational Group last week.
IMPACT national secretary Peter Nolan said the union was strongly opposed to the management proposals, which would see a further rollout of staffless service pilots to 23 locations in 20 local authorities.
“This proposal could lead to further staff losses in a sector that was worst hit during the recession. The union is also concerned about the possible erosion of terms and conditions for library staff, and health and safety protections in our libraries,” he said.
The IMPACT information meeting takes place at 11.30am on Monday 7th November at IMPACT head office, Nerney’s Court, Dublin, D01 R2C5 (phone 01-817-1500). Only members of IMPACT who work in local authority library services are eligible to attend the meeting, which will provide an update on management proposals and the union’s industrial action ballot. Car parking at Nerney’s Court is extremely limited.
