Saint Patrick’s day parades in Ireland could be under threat

Saint Patrick’s Day parades in some of the country’s largest cities could be under threat because of the current wave of industrial action in the public sector. 

According to the Irish Examiner newspaper, the Impact trade union confirmed it has instructed its members working in Cork City Council to withdraw their "participation and engagement" in the organisation of the local authority-run event honouring the country’s patron saint. 

The dispute follows paycuts that were announced in last Decembers budget by finance minister Brian Lenihan.

Its Cork branch wrote to its members in the city council yesterday informing them that their further participation in the organisation of Leeside’s festival and parade is in breach of the current industrial action.  "Please note that from today Impact members are instructed not to take part in, or attend, any forum or function regarding the festival," the letter stated. 

The instruction was issued on foot of advice from the union’s national secretary.  A spokesperson for the local branch said such festival organisation work is outside the terms of some workers’ contracts, but is an example of the flexibility shown by public service workers.  "This instruction is a consequence of the Government walking away from negotiations."

A spokesperson for Impact headquarters said the latest move applies only to its members in Cork City Council at this stage but he could not rule out the issuing of similar instructions to other local authority workers around of the country.

Speaking this week to the Examiner newspaper and Red FM Lord Mayor of Cork Dara Murphy appealed to Impact to reconsider its position.

"I appreciate the workers have been put in a difficult situation following the cutbacks in their wages caused by successive years of economic mismanagement by the government," he said.  He said all the organisational work for Cork’s St Patrick’s Day festival and parade can take place over the coming weeks within normal working hours.

By Sean Ryan