News Flash

Public Service Association (PSA) members from Magill Youth Training Centre held a Stop Work meeting on 22 March 2010 at 3pm on the grass outside the Centre. Members are outraged at the treatment of one of their colleagues by the Department for Families and Communities (DFC).

DFC have failed to act logically or reasonably in their attempt to transfer an employee from Magill to Cavan Youth Training Centre (YTC). Their reasons for transferring this member are related to a complaint made by the Guardian in relation to an incident involving a resident..

The decision to temporarily transfer the member is bewildering as;

1. The resident has since been released

2. The member continued to work at Magill, including with the resident, from the time the incident was reported to the time that the resident was released.

Members demanded that our member be allowed to remain at Magill. A subsequent meeting was held to allow members to consider the negative response from DFC.

The member has a distinguished record as a Youth Worker including receiving an Australia Day commendation for selfless efforts in rescuing a resident during a fire at Magill Training Centre, with all the potential risks to his own safety that entailed.

The continued refusal to consider any compromise or provide any reasonable explanation for the Department's decision angered members.

Members have determined that they will impose industrial bans at the commencement of the AM Shift on 29 March 2010 should the Department continue to refuse to allow the member to remain at Magill Training Centre.