According to the union, five staff members were served with individual redundancy notices (stock image)

Staff at Childminding Ireland are beginning strike action this morning after claims that a number of workers were served compulsory redundancy notices.

The group's union IMPACT maintains that the dispute will continue until management withdraws the "bizarre and bogus" job loss threats.

A statement from the union says it believes Childminding Ireland is “illegally threatening redundancies to force administrative and specialist staff out of their jobs before replacing them with others”.

“This is a bizarre and bogus redundancy threat in which a State-funded employer simply wants to get rid of its staff and replace them with others”, IMPACT official Stella Griffin said.

“Childminding Ireland has had plenty of opportunities to explain why it thinks restructuring and redundancies are necessary, and it has consistently failed to do so. It is clear that no business case has been put forward because no business case exists.”

According to the union, five staff members were served with individual redundancy notices, ranging from one month to almost a year.

Childminding Ireland has responded to the union statement: "Despite a four month consultation period, notice of strike action by three members of staff from Tuesday 7th June has been issued".

"While it is hoped that even at this late stage strike action may be averted, Childminding Ireland wishes to assure its members that if the strike does go ahead, Childminding Ireland will continue to be there for its members".

"Staff not involved in the industrial action will continue to work as usual", it adds.

Online Editors