Fórsa members at Oberstown to take industrial action

Members of the Fórsa trade union working at the Oberstown Children's Detention Campus are set to commence industrial action next week. The dispute centers on critical concerns regarding staffing levels, safety, and the campus's capacity. Starting Thursday, June 25, staff will implement a work-to-rule, which includes refusing to work beyond their scheduled hours and declining overtime.

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Members have repeatedly raised concerns that staffing shortfalls are placing unsustainable pressure on services and increasing risks in a challenging custodial environment for children and staff alike.

Fórsa confirmed that a ballot of its members overwhelmingly favored industrial action, up to and including strike action. Following discussions at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), the union stated that management's proposals did not offer a viable or operationally safe solution to the issues at hand. Fórsa described the proposals as "not grounded in operational reality" and insufficient in addressing the impact of staffing pressures on employees and the safe delivery of services.

"Members have repeatedly raised concerns that staffing shortfalls are placing unsustainable pressure on services and increasing risks in a challenging custodial environment for children and staff alike," said Fórsa official Deirdre O’Connell Hopkins. She emphasized the interconnectedness of safety, stating, "If it isn’t safe for staff, it cannot be safe for the young people in their care."

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If it isn’t safe for staff, it cannot be safe for the young people in their care.

Ms. O’Connell Hopkins further detailed that members have reported serious incidents, including assaults on staff and injuries requiring hospital treatment. These incidents occurred in circumstances where staffing levels were stretched thin and operational demands intensified. Both Oberstown and the Department of Children have been contacted for comment.

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Members have previously reported serious incidents at the facility, including assaults on staff and injuries requiring hospital treatment, in circumstances where staffing levels were stretched and operational demands intensified.