3 November 2005 Edition

Resize: A A A Print

Nuacht na nOibrithe

BY Justin Moran

Mary Lou McDonald

Mary Lou McDonald

SIPTU President Jack O'Connor has described the Irish Ferries dispute as giving workers a glimpse of the 'neo-liberal nightmare' that would result if the EU Commission succeeded in pushing through the proposed Services Directive, strongly opposed by Sinn Féin. He made his remarks in a speech calling on workers to turn out to support the Irish Ferries workers march to the Dáil today.

"The proposed directive will allow employers to transport workers from one end of the EU to the other and impose the 'going rate' in the member state with the poorest conditions applicable. This represents a complete repudiation of the European social model in the name of greed.

Mary Lou McDonald MEP has hit out at the refusal of the EU Commission to consider an EU Ferries Directive, proposed by Sinn Féin as a possible solution to the dispute. "The European Commisson responded unsatisfactorily to my question," said McDonald. "They stated that negotiations had previously broken down on the rights and conditions of third country nationals on ships within the EU. The Commission also responded by saying that it had no plans to resurrect such a proposal. Immediate action needs to be taken to save sea faring jobs within the EU.

"I have raised the Irish Ferries issue at European level in order to halt the exploitation of workers and their employment conditions as well as dealing with the wider flags of convenience issue.

"I will continue to raise this level at both national and EU level. Immediate action needs to be taken to save sea faring jobs within the EU, and to ensure the protection of workers' rights."

Sinn Féin meets CWU ahead of strike action

Sinn Féin met the Communications Workers Union (CWU) on Wednesday morning to discuss impending industrial action at An Post. Members of the union's National Executive met Sinn Féin Dáil Group Leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin and Dublin TDs Aengus Ó Snodaigh and Seán Crowe.

Speaking afterwards party spokesperson on communciations Seán Crowe said: "These workers are due a pay increase under Sustaining Progress, which is now two years overdue. An Post management is trying to link this payment to changes they want in work practices that are completely separate to the agreement on pay.

"The CWU is not opposed to discussing changes in work practices or reforms in the company, but they have a legitimate expectation of getting the increase they were promised before dealing with this other issue. The failure of management to deliver on their commitments under Partnership, and the abject failure of the government to put pressure on the company to do so, exposes again the true nature of Social Partnership in this state. There is one rule for the workers and another for management.

"Sinn Féin is fully behind the workers on this and we discussed a number of ways we could provide support for their campaign."

Following the meeting the union was scheduled to meet with the National Implementation Body (NIB) as part of efforts to resolve the dispute. An Post management had also agreed to a separate meeting with the NIB. The NIB comprises senior representatives of the government, employers and trade unions and its intervention is at the request of Minister Noel Dempsey.

As An Phoblacht goes to print there is little optimism within the CWU about the prospects of success for these negotiations, nor the specific form of industrial action the CWU intends taking from the weekend although commentators believe all-out strike action is initially unlikely.

Workers under attack

Sinn Féin is supporting Irish actors, musicians, film crews and freelance journalists whose right to collective representation is under atttack from the Competition Authority who are treating such workers as if they were private companies. To prevent price fixing, competition law forbids private companies banding together.

Sinn Féin spokeperson on workers right Arthur Morgan TD has pointed out that "these people are individual union members who often work alone or are employed for short periods before moving to another job. They are actually more vulnerable that permanent staff members."

SIPTU, Irish Equity Group, Musicians Union of Ireland and the NUJ have called on the government to support their campaign and introduce legislation to defend their rights to collective representation.


An Phoblacht
44 Parnell Sq.
Dublin 1
Ireland