Urgent intervention required from Central Bank in Tullow Credit Union dispute

Actions of the Tullow Board of Directors need to be fully investigated say FSU

The Financial Services Union (FSU) have described the behavior and actions of the Board of Director of Tullow Credit Union as deeply troubling and requiring immediate investigation by the Central Bank.

The FSU and the Board of Tullow Credit Union where due for discussions at the Workplace Relations Commission yesterday, Tuesday 22^nd September but after turning up an hour late the Chairperson of the Board refused to engage on any substantive issue.

Commenting Gareth Murphy, Head of Industrial Relations with the FSU said

“The Chairperson of Tullow Board of Directions showed complete contempt for the WRC in refusing to engage and equally showed complete disrespect to the staff of Tullow Credit Union.

At the meeting the FSU were informed the Board of Directors of Tullow Credit Union met  in emergency meeting and agreed to terminate the contract of the current Chief Executive Officer without going through any formal process. The current CEO is an FSU member and has been on strike with the rest of the staff over the last two weeks. He was informed yesterday of his dismissal by the Chairperson of the Board.

This is the behavior of a Board of Directors that is out of it depth and has lost complete control of the situation.

Over the last few weeks the Board of Directors has used the finances of Tullow Credit Union to hire a number of outside consultants including a PR firm. At least one of these consultants has been used to open the credit union during the time of the strike.

The Central Bank needs to state whether they have sanctioned these hires, whether they have adequate oversight of the workings of the Board and whether the oversight board has met to determine if all proper procedures are been followed.

The strike at Tullow Credit Union will continue this week with staff on the picket lines all day Friday and next Monday.”
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