17th November Craft workers in Local Authorities and Health Services decide to support 24 hour Strike on November 24th November 17th, 2009 The Local Authority and Health Service Craftworkers Group of Unions has served notice of Industrial Action up to and including All Out Strike on the Local Government Management Service Board and the Health Service Executive. The Group represents 5,000 workers in local authorities, hospitals and other public facilities throughout the state. They are responsible for care and maintenance facilities. The Acting Secretary of the Group, Finbarr Maguire of the Technical Engineering and Electrical Union, said today that, "At a specially convened meeting of the affiliate unions on Monday afternoon it was clearly identified that there was an overwhelming mandate from our respective memberships to enter into a campaign of industrial action as a defence against the unjustified levies, including the so called 'pensions levy', that were unilaterally imposed on them. The was also total opposition to further proposed pay-cuts. "The first leg of this campaign will take effect from 00.01 am – 23.59pm on Tuesday, November 24th, 2009. It will consist of a one day strike with a full withdrawal of labour by craftworkers in all Health Service areas within these hours. "The unions have advised the employers that they will make themselves available to discuss appropriate levels of emergency cover as set down in the 'Voluntary Code of Practice on Dispute Procedures for the Maintenance of Essential Services'. "The Local Authority and Health Service Craftworkers Group regrets the inconvenience to the public but our members cannot and will not endure any further reductions in their earnings. The reductions already imposed are securing significant savings for the Exchequer. "The Government now needs to look to other sectors than PAYE workers to contribute to the correction of public finances. Further cuts in pay, job numbers and services will only hit low and middle income earners, while the high income groups who did best out of the boom continue to remain insulated from the effects of the downturn." Note: Unions in the Group include SIPTU, TEEU, Unite and UCATT