Fianna Fail members of Cork City council say staff are being compromised by the directive from their unions to not deal with members of the government parties. Members of the IMPACT and SIPTU trade unions have advised staff not to assist politicians "who have not supported the interest of public sector workers".

This has resulted in public sector workers at City Hall not taking queries from or dealing with Fianna Fail Cllrs. The action was heavily criticised by Fianna Fail members at last Monday's City Council meeting.

Cllr Terry Shannon said: " I regard the move as opportunistic and ill-tempered. It is undemocratic to make officials do something they don't want to, it is not acceptable. The demands the unions are placing on people are embarrassing. My party is entitled to be dealt with.

"I am aware of the difficulties facing all public sector workers, but many people have taken huge pay cuts in the private sector as well. The government is not just concentrating on one sector of society. The unions need to cop themselves on, what they are doing is illegal and I call on them to rescind their actions."

Danger

Another Fianna Fail Cllr told the Cork Independent that the action prevented him from reporting a fire that could have caused serious damage. Cllr Ken O'Flynn said he rang City Hall on Tuesday and was told by the staff member that he was not allowed to take Cllr O'Flynn's call.

"He said it was nothing personal but he was directed to do that. I wanted to report that a rubbish bin and a couch were on fire near a house, both ended up being burnt out but it could easily have spread." He added that it is the people most at need that will suffer.

"I deal with people and their social welfare needs and now I can't help them, this is people's only source of money at stake. I represent people with their medical card applications, this affects the most vulnerable in society. We are powerless now and it's the people we represent that suffer

"We all have to act responsible here, the money isn't there. The recession has been tough on everyone, I have taken a cut in both my public and private wage. The unions need to take a long, hard look at themselves," he said. Independent Cllr Chris O'Leary placed a motion before the council asking for council solidarity for City Council employees.

"The situation has been brought to a head and its time something is done," he said. Fine Gael Cllr Emmet O'Halloran said his dealings with council staff had not been directly affected.

"I do know that nobody answered phones today (Wednesday) between 9am and 1pm. I have empathy with the unions and the government needs to sit down with the unions and find an end to this mess because it is a mess. They cannot be ignored and the unions have a right to protest," he said.

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