Clare County Council is refuting allegations that any redundancies will arise from a proposed corporate restructuring of the Shannon Heritage Sites.
It follows comments from SIPTU which claims that 18 staff members at the landmark attractions have been told their jobs are now at risk.
On Tuesday, the local authority declared its intention to appoint two specialist operators to manage retail, food and beverage services at Bunratty Castle & Folk Park, Knappogue Castle, Craggaunowen and the Cliffs of Moher Giftshop.
The process will progress to the tender stage in December and its envisaged that the successful contractor will be appointed in May of 2024 which the Council says is a tried and tested model already in place at the Cliffs of Moher Experience.
According to SIPTU however, workers have now been left reeling over the announcement to outsource food, beverage and retail jobs at the site.
In a statement to Clare FM, Industrial Organiser Rachel Keane states “that this outsourcing will reduce the overall staff headcount by 30 percent “.
The union claims “that 18 workers received calls to attend individual follow-up meetings offsite on Tuesday, 21st November were they were told their positions are now at risk of redundancy.”
In response Clare County Council has told Clare FM that the pay and conditions of all 66 employees, including 31 Full Time and 35 Part Time workers, will be protected under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations.
The local authority also says “There will be no redundancies arising from the proposed outsourcing of retail, food, and beverage operations within Shannon Heritage DAC while compulsory redundancies are also not proposed for the Shannon Heritage DAC.”
