Community Welfare Officers’ Industrial Action must be resolved

Filed under: Economy , also relevant to: ,

Fine Gael Cork South Central Deputy Deirdre Clune has called for an immediate resolution to the industrial dispute that has resulted in Community Welfare Officers (CWOs) not processing new claims for rent/mortgage allowances and medical cards.

This dispute is in operation since Thurs 16th July in the Cork and Kerry area

Community Welfare Officers work on the frontline. They are the first port of call for many who find themselves in difficult financial circumstances.

At a time when we see a sharp rise in demands for the services of CWO’s, it is unacceptable that vulnerable people many of them recently unemployed should be faced with such an impasse

There is an embargo on recruitment of CWO’s but the current dispute centres on the non replacement of staff whether they are on sick leave maternity leave or for other reasons. IMPACT estimates that, last year, seven posts were lost in Cork and four in Kerry and the HSE promised to replace six and a half posts in February. However, this has not happened and the non replacement of posts is placing undue strain on those working within the system.

The HSE have stated that CWO’s will continue to accept applications for rent/mortgage allowances and medical cards but these applications will not be processed

Like all disputes there will be a resolution to this but, while it continues, vulnerable, financially stretched individuals and families will suffer. The HSE must act immediately to ensure normal services in these difficult times are restored.

Deirdre CluneWhat did you think about this article? I would love to hear your opinion, please leave a comment below. Thank you!

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15 Responses to “Community Welfare Officers’ Industrial Action must be resolved”

  1. Ann-Marie Fleming Says:

    I cannot sleep at the moment. This came to my attention yesterday when I went to my local CWO with my Rent Allowance application form. I have spoken to people in Abbey Court House to be told it could go on for weeks and weeks. I have NO FUNDS to cover my rent. I was made redundant this year and I am a single parent. I worked full time since becoming a mother until I was made redundant.

    I fully understand that the work load has increased and that they have not been given the extra staff as promised. I can see why they are striking.

    But I have to say that listening to a CWO tell you that they are on strike because they have too much work which will affect me directly because I have no job and need the support is a right kick in the teeth. I have no job at all!

    I would happily sit in their office and do any paper work for them if they would just process my application!

    Hire me! I need a job!

    July 22nd, 2009 at 6:12 pm
  2. Dermot Says:

    This week I have to make a choice between paying my rent or paying maintenance for my child.
    As if loosing my job wasn`t stresfull enough.

    August 4th, 2009 at 11:56 am
  3. Lisa Says:

    Why isn’t anything being done about this? Its going on weeks now, nothing on the news nothing in the paper, very little information on the web! If this were happening in Dublin there would be war…how long is this going to go on for? What a joke!

    August 14th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
  4. Tracy Says:

    Does anybody have any information about this? I can’t seem to find any updates. I am in the same situation above, so far my landlord has been lenient but I can’t expect it forever. I would be happy to earn my job seekers benifit too. Weather it be processing documents or planting flower beds or cleaning streets. My husband has emailed his C.V. to over 20 different places and only had one reply. I sympathise with the CWO’s they are doing a great job under immense pressure but how long will we and them have to wait for this or is the HSE using this as a delaying tactic?

    August 15th, 2009 at 4:48 pm
  5. Carol Says:

    There’s so little information out there; the only way you get updates is if you go to your local welfare office- queue up for the morning and then to be told it’s “still ongoing”. CWOs are under massive pressures and I sympathise with them but we are the people being punished for this. It is so frustrating and worrying for alot of people. There’s NO jobs out there and I have spent four years in college and worked for five years so it is a horrible time as I am not used being out of work, and this is just adding to the stress of it all. Just hope it gets sorted out soon, very soon… any further information would be grately appreciated.

    August 19th, 2009 at 4:44 pm
  6. Dermot Says:

    Chances are nothing will happen till the spongers in the Dail come back from the holliday the public are paying for.
    Rang HSE-its the unions fault, ring them, rang IMPACT, ring the HSE.
    Living in Ireland is like watching a Shakesperian tradgedy being acted by Jim Carey

    August 20th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
  7. Marie ryan Says:

    I rang the medical card section in abbey court house and the attitude was appalling. they were very abrupt and they informed me that my application could take ages because of the industrial action. she just told me that i would have to wait. thats it. i am very disappointed with this service and i am not happy that it is the ordinary people who suffer as always.

    August 28th, 2009 at 10:06 am
  8. JOHN Says:

    This dispute shows the selfishness of the CWOS and their union-all this dispute over a couple of jobs !There are many people strugling over this and they couldnt care less.There is no coverage in the media and nothing is been done while the misery for many continues .I do not accept the argument of the union over the plight of the unfortunate PEOPLE WHO ARE ENTITLED TO THEIR SERVICES – disgraceful

    September 14th, 2009 at 8:50 pm
  9. Maria Says:

    I was receiving Rent Allownace in Dublin until the end of August, then moved to Cork to begin University in September, whereby my rent allowance was fully cut.

    Not even a simple transfer was processed.

    I am living on less than 10euro a day, full stop. I have had to borrow 400e to pay this month’s rent, and will have to borrow again for next month.

    WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT THIS????? I am so angry with the CWOs. Do they not fully grasp that some people literally do not have the money to pay their rent? What are these people meant to do?

    Can anyone help us?

    September 24th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
  10. Maria Says:

    Seriously, can we do anthing about this?

    September 27th, 2009 at 5:05 pm
  11. DANNY Says:

    Hi-this dispute is a disgrace is there any end in sight im out of work and even get a medical card which i am entitled to.July 15 is when it started now were entering October whats happening-theres no media coverage does anyone care about the unemployed

    September 29th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
  12. Deirdre Clune Says:

    I have been in regular contact with the HSE about this dispute but so far there has been no agreement between the parties. The Minister for Health has so far been unwilling to get involved in helping to resolve this dispute.

    October 1st, 2009 at 1:08 pm
  13. Chris Lloyd Says:

    What a disgrace , they say they will highlight priority cases but our medical card form returned, have disabled son requiring more than usual medical attention needs etc so why is he not a priority . Put a covering letter in with application form obviusly not read !
    Give me the job i will do it for nothing whilst my son is at school!

    October 2nd, 2009 at 11:26 am
  14. Lacey Says:

    It has been nearly 3 months…at what point is the Minister for Health going to get involved? What a joke!

    October 5th, 2009 at 9:31 am
  15. Mary Says:

    Will the minister of health bother getting involved when people start topping themselves because they can’t afford to heat the house or feed their families?

    October 7th, 2009 at 3:18 pm

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