Strike to hit the NCT?

[WhipLash]

I heard yesterday that SIPTU had issued the NSTS with a strike warning. Apparently they have a week to improve the working rostrums.

If they strike what will happen to those people whose car tax is due? After all, no NCT cert means no car tax cert. They say cars with tax due will be given priority, but surely there will now be a backlog?

[Josh B]

I thought these guys WERE on permanent strike :)

[WhipLash]

Well it looks like the NCT mech's could be back to work this week :

Mechanics at the National Car Test Centres will meet today to discuss revised proposals aimed at resolving their dispute over rates of pay.

SIPTU officials representing the 150 workers described talks with management last night as very constructive.

The union's national committee is recommending acceptance of the deal.

[Junior]

How long did this dispute last for ??
Any ideas on the settlement ??

[WhipLash]

Junior, no news on the settlement as yet....but here's an interesting report from our NCT section (http://eforecourt.com/nct) :

As of the 20th February 2001 27 NCT centres are currently closed due to strike action by the AGEMOU Trade Union. (see the list of UNAFFECTED centres below). Special arrangements have been put in place to notify our customers of the situation. A letter of Cancellation of Appointment is being sent to customers who have confirmed bookings for a closed NCT centre one week before the appointment date. A letter of Re-Confirmation of Appointment is being sent to customers who have already confirmed a booking in one of our open NCT centres which is not affected by the strike.

In light of the above developments, the Department of the Environment & Local Government have suspended the requirement for the production of a NCT Certificate by car owners at the time of renewal of motor tax in respect of a NCT liable car. For the duration of the industrial action at some NCT centres, in the absence of a NCT Certificate, motor tax should be renewed for a three-month period only for pre-1992 registered cars and for whatever period the car owner requests for 1992-1996 inc. registered cars.

A Labour Court hearing took place on Monday 19th February and the company is awaiting a recommendation from the Court. NCTS is hopeful that the situation will be resolved over the next few weeks. Once the dispute is over, NCTS will re-write to all our customers who have been cancelled and invite them to make a new appointment for a NCT.


List of Test Centres NOT affected by Strike Action:

1. Cahirciveen
2. Charleville
3. Clifden
4. Donegal
5. Dundalk
6. Killarney
7. Macroom
8. Monaghan
9. Tullamore
10. Waterford
11. Youghal

The following NCT centres are operating on a skeleton staff:


12. Cork
13. Deansgrange
14. Fonthill
15. Galway
16. Limerick

[WhipLash]

National car testing centres around the country will re-open later today following a decision by employees to return to work.

Workers at 40 national car testing centres around the country voted to return to work by a margin of 73 to 41yesterday afternoon.

At a meeting in Tullamore, SIPTU members employed at the centres accepted a new package of measures proposed by NCT management.