2 August 2007 Edition
Nuacht na nOibrithe
Bookbinding firm’s sit-in continues
A sit-in by the workers of a bookbinding company in Wicklow that has gone on for two weeks is to continue. The workers in Reilly Bookbinders staged the protest after the company announced that they were going to relocate to Eastern Europe and instead of awarding statutory redundancy, they would divide the sum of €15,000 amongst 14 workers. The company have since made a u-turn on the decision to relocate during Labour Relations Commission talks this week, however workers are continuing their protest until they have received independent verification that the company will stay in Wicklow.
A representative of the Irish Print Group division of Siptu said of the company’s shock u-turn “We’re not too sure where the money is coming from at this stage. Last week they were insolvent and could find no money to pay for the redundancy package and today they’re talking about staying put. Are they solvent, are they insolvent?”
Abbey Theatre breaches legislation
The Abbey Theatre have this week been told by the Data Protection Commissioner that requiring workers to provide fingerprints in order to
“clock-in” breaches legislation. Workers who are members of the Building and Allied Trades’ Union refused to use the intrusive device “the time and attendance system” since it was installed last year. BATU were then informed that workers who did not comply with the drastic measures would face disciplinary action. A Labour Court hearing last month upheld the position of Abbey Theatre management and encouraged workers to comply, however the Data Protection Commissioner concerns may provide grounds to reverse this position. BATU have contacted the Labour Court outlining the Commissioner’s view which supported their argument that the biometric system was an “infringement of fundamental human rights and privacy”.
Postal workers strike
Counter staff Post Office workers in the Six Counties are to go on a half day strike this Friday in a continued dispute over pay and conditions. This will be the fifth strike in the dispute and a number of Post Offices will be affected. A representative of the Communication Workers Union, Johnny McKeever said that the strikes would continue that the next would take place on Tuesday as counter-staff would “come off the worst in pay and restructuring plans.”
Russian Crew to fly home after 10 weeks
The eight Russian crew members who have been stranded aboard the MV Lillian off the coast of County Wexford for ten weeks are to fly home this week. The High Court has ordered that the vessel be auctioned in August in order to contribute to the $96,000 in back-payment they are owed.
Ken Fleming of the International Transport Federation conducted the original investigation into the ship which was detained because of safety concerns has said that he will ensure that each crew member will be paid what they are owed. The ship was arrested and detained since May after it was found to have “serious structural defects and non-compliance with basic safety regulations” and further to this none of the crew had been paid since boarding on April 2 of this year. “The men were left effectively imprisoned on board as they did not have the necessary visas to leave the ship”, Mr. Fleming said.