Attempts to privatise Galway Local Employment Services need “to be fought in every town and county”, otherwise they will “lose their true value” in supporting “vulnerable people back into the workplace”.
This is the view of Labour Party leader, Alan Kelly, who was in Galway recently to meet with SIPTU members employed in Local Employment Services and Job Clubs.
Earlier this year, the Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys, began a tendering process for the provision of LES and Job Clubs which, if allowed to proceed, will result in the full transition of these services to ‘for profit’ providers.
In response, SIPTU and Fórsa launched the ‘Our Community is Not for Sale’ campaign to oppose any privatisation, and for the retention of these community services in their present form.
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Volunteer Galway Centre manager Donnacha Foley, having a walk and talk meeting with Labour leaser Alan Kelly, and Cllr Niall McNelis, about the role of volunteers during the Covid pandemic. Photo:- Brian Harding
Following his meeting, Dep Kelly said: “I understand only too well this situation as my own sister works in a Job Club in county Kerry. I will be raising this issue in the Dáil on my return and offer my full support to LES, Job Clubs, and all the other valuable community sector workers.”
The meeting was also attended by Labour Galway City Central councillor, Niall McNelis, who also pledged his support to the SIPTU campaign.
Galway LES is now calling for a meeting with Social Protection Minister Humphreys. “She needs to look in much greater detail at the needs of the long-term unemployed,” said Galway LES manager, Samantha O’Toole, “and meet with all stakeholders to discuss the future of services aimed at bringing them back into the workforce.”
