Local TD says there is ‘alarm within Bord na Mona as redundancy and employment questions go unanswered’

Workers at Bord na Mona say they are being left “in an intolerable state of limbo,” as the company is continually failing to clarify questions around the availability of employment opportunities in 2024.

That is the view of Independent TD for Laois Offaly Carol Nolan.

Deputy Nolan also highlighted the treatment of a number of workers within BnM who were granted ‘permanent’ worker status by the Joint Industrial relations Council (JIRC) as of the 11/12/2023, just three days after BnM had them laid them off, thereby making a number of pay related payments inaccessible.

This move has been described by the TD as “a curious series of coincidences that require further examination.”

The Independent TD had previously highlighted related issues in early November of last year when she engaged with Bord na Mona following concerns that were brought to her attention involving the company’s treatment of workers who had at least 3 years of unbroken service.

At the time Deputy Nolan said that it was her understanding that such workers should be classed as permanent workers and not seasonal workers in line with practice and precedent within the company that normally afforded workers a permanent status after such period of unbroken service:

“The workers that I have spoken to just want clarity and fairness from BnM,” said Deputy Nolan.

“They also feel it was profoundly unjust for the company to lay off permanent workers just weeks out from Christmas especially when their employment status was being assessed by the JIRC.”

“As I understand it there has been a meeting this month with the group of unions representing the workers and BnM management, but no further update on the workers situation was provided.”

“It is high time that BnM fully engages with the workers and provides them with the kind of clarity that is being urgently sought. Indeed, this matter is dragging on in a manner that is completely contrary to anything even resembling a just transition,” concluded Deputy Nolan.

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