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999 call centre company insists it will be business as usual tomorrow, despite workers' strike

Workers at the BT / Conduit’s Navan call-centre are to go on strike for 12 hours tomorrow.

shutterstock_102266374 Shutterstock / dotshock Shutterstock / dotshock / dotshock

Updated 20.52

BRITISH TELECOM/CONDUIT Global say it will be business as usual for the 999 call service across Ireland tomorrow, despite workers going on strike at one of their call centres.

Staff at the 999 call service in Navan, Co Meath, are set to strike tomorrow in pursuit of claims against service operators BT and Conduit.

The strike comes after weeks of unrest between workers and their employers, stemming from accusations surrounding staff’s access to bathroom breaks while on duty.

“All three emergency call handling service centres will be open and operational tomorrow, and in addition, we are activating a fourth centre to give us flexibility,” a spokesperson for BT said this evening.

There are a number of operators from Conduit Global rostered to handle emergency calls in the Navan centre from 8am to 8pm tomorrow and they’re encouraged to come into work as normal.  As part of our contingency plan, we have additional trained employees in place to handle calls to 999 and 112 efficiently and effectively.

“BT is disappointed that the union is going ahead with the industrial action in Conduit Global tomorrow, as we’ve seen the significant changes made in the company and the positive reaction from their employees.”

The HSE, meanwhile, says that it is “working closely with the Department of Communications to ensure that there are contingency plans in place during the period of the planned stoppage to minimise any disruption to services”.

The strike itself will take the form of a 12-hour stoppage between 8am and 8pm at the Navan call centre.

Earlier this month 84% of Conduit workers balloted in favour of industrial action according to the Communications Workers Union (CWU) which is representing the employees.

999′s other call centres in Dublin and Ballyshannon will not be affected by the strike, with all calls funneled through those places in the absence of the Navan centre, according to the CWU Steve Fitzpatrick, head of the CWU, who says the strike is a sign that the 999 workers are asserting “their right to dignity and respect at their workplace”.

“BT/Conduit have responded with a calculated and insincere love bombing of their workers with loads of one-to-one chats and group therapy but absolutely nothing that addresses the claims at the heart of this dispute,” he said.

In keeping Dublin and Ballyshannon open the CWU says it will “ensure that this industrial action does not impact on vital emergency call answering services and services to the public from front line responders”.

Response

In response to the news that the action is to proceed Conduit Global expressed themselves “very disappointed”.

“Facts have been widely reported that rebut the union’s claims and these include that staff’s average pay are already above living wage,” the company said in a statement.

Suspension and leave policy has been changed and the ‘time off the phones policy’ revoked and we have listened to staff to create a new on-call schedule.
The union, whose membership in our company is unknown, does not seem to be up-to-date on the changes within our company and the positive feedback received from employees.

For its part BT disputes the fact that the CWU (which is not recognised by BT/Conduit) are not in a position to say that tomorrow’s action will not impact on the provision of 999 services.

Likewise, a BT source says that their is no way to verify the CWU’s claim that 84% of workers balloted voted in favour of the strike.

The striking workers are demanding a ‘living wage’ of €11.50 per hour, an end to ‘punitive’ suspensions, a ‘fair’ on-call policy (most likely in reference to the alleged denial of toilet breaks on Conduit’s behalf), and collective bargaining powers from their employer.

“Unsurprisingly, the companies that brought us the toilet break policy seem to be incapable of comprehending demands for basic respect, a living wage and the freedom of workers to choose who should represent them,” said Fitzpatrick.

The level of public support for these workers and their issues has given them a huge boost in their pursuit of decency and respect. We are considering our options for further action in the face of BT/Conduit’s intransigence and refusal to engage.

Originally published 15.44

Read: Dolores O’Riordan told to pay €6,000 to poor box over air rage incident

Read: ‘There’s a reason no Fine Gael government has ever been re-elected’ – former minister

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45 Comments
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    Mute Keith Wizzy
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    Nov 13th 2013, 11:30 PM

    Fair fooks to all involved. Ashamed to say I’d not known it was on.

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    Mute Rob Cunningham
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    Nov 14th 2013, 12:10 AM

    When is the next one?

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    Mute Bobby
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    Nov 13th 2013, 11:42 PM

    What a great city

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    Mute Gerard McCarthy
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    Nov 14th 2013, 1:18 AM

    Was there only one photographer in dublin, couldn’t have got a pic outside Dublin no? Typical!! Not to put dampener on it as was great cause fair play to those who ran, just a gentle reminder to media life exists outside of DUBLIN!!!!

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    Mute Derek Gannon
    Favourite Derek Gannon
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    Nov 14th 2013, 1:25 AM

    G’wan the chip on the shoulder. . . .

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    Mute Gerard McCarthy
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    Nov 14th 2013, 1:52 AM

    Feckin dubs ha!!

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    Mute Cian Hulm
    Favourite Cian Hulm
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    Nov 14th 2013, 2:03 AM

    Does it really?

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    Mute Derek Gannon
    Favourite Derek Gannon
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    Nov 14th 2013, 2:03 AM

    Ah sure we’re all friends. . . I’m sure there will be photos of the cork run somewhere tomorrow.all the journalists on the score.ie are too busy trying to come up with more Roy keane articles for us then to worry about the night run anywhere else!!

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    Mute Dominique Lavin
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    Nov 13th 2013, 11:55 PM

    Well done to everyone involved in this including my amazing brother in law Gary Seery all the running for such good causes :)

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    Mute Mark Doran
    Favourite Mark Doran
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    Nov 14th 2013, 5:57 AM

    Ran the race last night, had a great time :) thanks to all the organisers & volunteers for their free time & support. Well Done to all all over the Country & further a field.

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    Mute Fecky Din
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    Nov 13th 2013, 11:54 PM

    Saw one of these in Vienna a couple weeks ago..really cool idea

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    Mute peter gaffney
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    Nov 14th 2013, 5:58 AM

    Should be ran in the phoniex park.

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    Mute Daniel Dunne
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    Nov 14th 2013, 4:32 PM

    Except for the lack of street lighting away from Chesterfield Avenue, it’s a nicer run but not practical for a run in the dark.

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    Mute Caroline Farrell
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    Nov 14th 2013, 2:46 PM

    I ran in Kilkenny with some friends.lovely night for it

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    Mute peter gaffney
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    Nov 15th 2013, 1:36 AM

    The reason i was suggesting it should be ran in the park is for a number of obvious reasons.
    Free traffic congestion
    Free parking where ever you want.
    Free lighting (generatated lighting).
    Don’t get me wrong i agree with the purpose of the run for charities and all that and i salute everybody that run’s the race…..just think its more of a suitable place.

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