STRIKE action is having “huge knock-on effects” on road and maintenance works in Donegal, it is claimed.
That is according to Independent councillor Michael McClafferty, who has expressed concerns at the effects of the work-to-rule strikes in the Glenties Municipal District (MD).
He told the Donegal News that a stall in road tarring, drainage and hedge-cutting works is having the biggest impact in the area, as council workers are being instructed not to work by unions.
“I fully support the strikes,” he said. “But in the Glenties MD, we have a big problem. Because the council workers are on strike, the hedges can’t be cut and roadworks aren’t being done.”
Cllr McClafferty expressed fears that Donegal may lose funding if road projects are not carried out by the end of the year.
Hedge cutting is said to be affected by council strikes.
“If funds are not being used here, they’ll end up in Dublin,” he said. “That money will never come back to Donegal.”
He has accused the government of deploying a “divide and conquer” strategy.
“The blame lies at the government’s door,” said Cllr McClafferty.
“One thing for sure is that there will be a huge fallout from these works not getting done. The money will be gone.”
Cllr McClafferty described the strikes as a “double-edged knife” for workers as they are not paid for strike action, and added that farmers are being left awaiting delayed payments.
He expressed fears that if an agreement is not reached, strike action could continue into the winter months.
“People will start to buckle,” said Cllr McClafferty. “There’s no end at all in sight.”
He added: “The longer this goes on, the worse it’s going to be.”
Over 300,000 public sector workers across Ireland took part in a 24-hour strike on Wednesday, the country’s largest public sector strike in 20 years.
It resulted in widespread disruption with schools and colleges closed along with council buildings and public services.
It was confirmed this evening that planned strike action for next Wednesday has been called off after negotiations between unions and the government.
In response to a query from the Donegal News, a council spokesperson said: “Donegal County Council are working to the Industrial Action as documented and widely circulated by the various Unions involved, with certain derogations in place for example, for responding to safety critical roads functions.
“The disruption will impact on certain programmes, with the extent unknown at present and subject to the length of time that the industrial action continues.”
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