SIPTU renew call for council to intervene in ongoing BYCC sit-in protest
As the sit-in protest at the Brookfield Youth and Community Centre continues, the incoming SIPTU Deputy General Secretary for the Public Sector, John King has renewed his union’s call for South Dublin County Council to intervene in the dispute.
Staff at the centre have been staging a sit-in protest since Friday, September 29, when they were issued with notice of immediate redundancy by the Chairman of Brookfield Youth and Community Centre Limited – the company which managed and staffed the council-owned centre.
Speaking after he visited the staff on Friday, Mr King said: “The closure of this centre has resulted directly in the loss of five jobs, as well as several TUS and Jobs Initiative positions.
“It has also had a hugely negative impact on the surrounding local community, which fought for over 20 years to have the centre built.”
He went on to say: “South Dublin County Council owns the building and as an interim measure must intervene in the dispute to maintain the facility’s operation until a new board of management is put in place.
“The Centre provides vital community services and facilities to young people in the local area.
“Tallaght Youth Service and the Dublin Dun Laoghaire Education Training Board are anchor tenants in the building.
“They provide resources, training, and other programmes with BYCC staff facilitating and supporting them.
“Between them the centre’s five staff have 50 years’ experience helping deliver community services.”
With one of the youngest populations across Tallaght, Brookfield has been for the past 10 days without its community centre – which is home to a diverse range of activities that cater to more than 1,000 children.
In a statement from staff yesterday, they said they remain hopeful that there can be a resolution to the ongoing situation, which has left the community of Brookfield without an important and much-loved community amenity.
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