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Fury over lifts saga

Wednesday, 07 April 2010

A BALLYMUN resident claims she suffered a heart attack after a dispute over the operation of lifts at the complex meant she had to climb five flights of stairs to get to her flat. The dispute involving Pickerings Lifts, the TEEU union and Dublin City Council began in early February leaving the area without maintenance coverage. The saga, which is now dragging into its third month and affecting 200 residents, led Dublin City Council to announce last week that the emergency services would be called in for each of the blocks that are without lifts. However, the move is three weeks too late for Patricia Egan who collapsed in her home on Balbutcher Lane on March 17. “I’ve no doubt that my heart attack was brought on by the strain I felt walking up the stairs,” Ms Egan told Northside People. “I struggled with the stairs and felt out of breath. When I got to my flat I lost all the feeling on the left side of my body and had an excruciating pain in my chest. contd on page 2 “When I got to the Mater Hospital I was told that I’d had a heart attack and would need a stint inserted.” The 47-year-old has had previous heart complaints but the most recent attack, she believes, was as a result of having to walk up five flights of stairs. “My heart condition was pretty bad but it’s worse now because of the physical strain I’ve been under,” she claimed. “I’m afraid to leave the house on my own in case I have another attack on the stairwell. “It’s dreadful to feel like a prisoner in your own home and it’s not only me who is finding it difficult. There are people who literally have not moved outside their home because they cannot get down those stairs.” Another resident, Catherine Mulvihill, who suffers from fibromyalgia, arthritis and a slipped disk, explained how she suffered excruciating pain when walking up and down five flights of stairs each day. “My husband is housebound because of a back injury so I have to go out every day to get food for the house,” she said. “I have a stroller which I had been initially carrying up and down the stairs until it became too much for me. “It’s beyond a joke that this has gone on for so long.” The hardship and inconvenience residents are suffering is now at a critical stage with 24 out of the 32 lifts in the area completely broken down. Local councillor, John Lyons (Lab), had been one of the first to call for the army to be drafted in to help alleviate the burden on residents. “This situation couldn’t go on any longer as it was,” he told Northside People. “The army was needed for an intervention. I thought the engineering corp in the army would have been able to fix the lifts. “The soldiers could also give a hand to those who need to get up and down the stairs with wheelchairs, buggies and shopping. “It’s completely unfair to have residents as the ones in the middle who are most affected by the strike action.” Local councillor Dessie Ellis (SF), who described the situation as “crazy”, said the dispute could escalate and affect apartment blocks across the city. “There’s talk that the contractors could withdraw their services from countless other blocks in Dublin,” he said. “The situation is critical and a long-term solution needs to be established.” Dublin City Council’s Assistant City Manager Ciarán McNamara announced last week that it will provide emergency services at each of the affected locations. “Dublin City Council regrets the enormous discomfort and inconvenience being experienced by residents in Ballymun, caused by the cessation of the lift maintenance contract arising from an internal industrial dispute,” he stated. “We have been proactively engaged in ongoing discussion and written correspondence since February 4 with the contractor, in an effort to restore delivery of the essential lift maintenance service, serving 261 families at Balbutcher Lane, Coultry Park, Sillogue Road and Shangan Road. “The culmination of this communication between ourselves and the contractor has led to our acceptance of the contractor’s assertion that the contract is terminated. “To this end, the council is seeking to make alternative service provision arrangements, including the provision of emergency services at each of the affected locations.” Managing director of Pickerings Lifts confirmed that Pickerings’ contract with Dublin City Council ceased early last month. “We haven’t had a contract with the council for provision of lift service maintenance since March 4,” he explained. “This is a very difficult situation for us as we have now lost one of our single biggest customers and the net result is likely to lead to more job losses in our company.” contd from page 1 “When I got to the Mater Hospital I was told that I’d had a heart attack and would need a stint inserted.” The 47-year-old has had previous heart complaints but the most recent attack, she believes, was as a result of having to walk up five flights of stairs. “My heart condition was pretty bad but it’s worse now because of the physical strain I’ve been under,” she claimed. “I’m afraid to leave the house on my own in case I have another attack on the stairwell. “It’s dreadful to feel like a prisoner in your own home and it’s not only me who is finding it difficult. There are people who literally have not moved outside their home because they cannot get down those stairs.” Another resident, Catherine Mulvihill, who suffers from fibromyalgia, arthritis and a slipped disk, explained how she suffered excruciating pain when walking up and down five flights of stairs each day. “My husband is housebound because of a back injury so I have to go out every day to get food for the house,” she said. “I have a stroller which I had been initially carrying up and down the stairs until it became too much for me. “It’s beyond a joke that this has gone on for so long.” The hardship and inconvenience residents are suffering is now at a critical stage with 24 out of the 32 lifts in the area completely broken down. Local councillor, John Lyons (Lab), had been one of the first to call for the army to be drafted in to help alleviate the burden on residents. “This situation couldn’t go on any longer as it was,” he told Northside People. “The army was needed for an intervention. I thought the engineering corp in the army would have been able to fix the lifts. “The soldiers could also give a hand to those who need to get up and down the stairs with wheelchairs, buggies and shopping. “It’s completely unfair to have residents as the ones in the middle who are most affected by the strike action.” Local councillor Dessie Ellis (SF), who described the situation as “crazy”, said the dispute could escalate and affect apartment blocks across the city. “There’s talk that the contractors could withdraw their services from countless other blocks in Dublin,” he said. “The situation is critical and a long-term solution needs to be established.” Dublin City Council’s Assistant City Manager, Ciarán McNamara, announced last week that it will provide emergency services at each of the affected locations. “Dublin City Council regrets the enormous discomfort and inconvenience being experienced by residents in Ballymun, caused by the cessation of the lift maintenance contract arising from an internal industrial dispute,” he stated. “We have been proactively engaged in ongoing discussion and written correspondence since February 4 with the contractor, in an effort to restore delivery of the essential lift maintenance service, serving 261 families at Balbutcher Lane, Coultry Park, Sillogue Road and Shangan Road. “The culmination of this communication between ourselves and the contractor has led to our acceptance of the contractor’s assertion that the contract is terminated. “To this end, the council is seeking to make alternative service provision arrangements, including the provision of emergency services at each of the affected locations.” Managing director of Pickerings Lifts, Conor Brennan, confirmed that Pickerings’ contract with Dublin City Council ceased early last month. “We haven’t had a contract with the council for provision of lift service maintenance since March 4,” he explained. “This is a very difficult situation for us as we have now lost one of our single biggest customers and the net result is likely to lead to more job losses in our company.”