2 August, 2007

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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.

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