Redundant Dell workers will take to the streets Tuesday to protest what they describe as “outstanding issues” and reported discrepancies in the European Globalisation Fund.
The Dell Redundant Workers Association says the action will be taken after it emerged that if ex-Dell workers take their share of the fund for use in private colleges it could lead to having their social welfare entitlements cut or stopped completely.
The fund was set up to retrain upskill and offer further educational opportunities to former Dell workers. The association says it’s members have been contacting them to report they are being given misleading information from FAS regarding a number of issues including whether members would receive the funds prior to taking part in college courses or only after they complete them successfully.
“To date there are still outstanding issues which require clarification by the Dept of Social Welfare & FAS. For this reason some of the private colleges have been forced to delay the implementation of their courses, this only leads to additional frustration on the part of our members concerned,” the association said.
“The disgruntlement is so obvious from the flood of emails we have received & the number of callers to our office in Upper William Street.”
With being “faced with a brick wall at every hands turn”, the associations committee says they have decided to mount a protest outside the new EGF offices at the FAS office on Michael Street Tuesday.
The protest gets underway at 10am.
NEW DETAILS (Tuesday)
The Department of Social and Family Affairs responded in a statement Tuesday night on the issue.
“Under the terms associated with the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF), it is not envisaged that in general any monies from the fund will be paid directly to former Dell workers. Therefore, the social welfare entitlements of the former workers will not be affected as no money will be directly received,” a spokesperson said Tuesday evening.
“Workers who were made statutorily redundant from Dell may retain their Jobseeker payments while attending education or training courses under the terms of the Back to Education (BTEA) schemes operated by the Department of Social and Family Affairs,” the statement said.
