26 February 1998 Edition
Donnelly defends workers' rights
By Marcas Mac Ruairí
THE Sinn Féin candidate in the forthcoming Dublin North by-election has called on trade union rights to be protected.
And voicing his support for workers at Dublin Airport who are in dispute with management over trade union rights, Paul Donnelly said, ``In the dispute at Ryanair the basic constitutional right to trade union membership is at issue. We stand with workers in all industries where they are struggling for decent pay and conditions and the right to organise.
``There is an increasing trend of non-recognition of trade union membership by companies in Ireland - a trend that has gone completely unchallenged by successive governments,'' he added.
``The Ryanair dispute also highlights the reality of the so-called Celtic Tiger economy with higher wages than ever for the already well-off and a growing gap between them and the increasing number of low paid workers.
``Ireland has the highest proportion of low-paid workers in the industrial world; 600,000 people earn less than £10,000 per year; and 4,600 people earn more than £100,000 per year.
``Worsening conditions for workers are also in evidence in TEAM Aer Lingus, once hailed as a national flag ship. Sinn Féin opposes the sale of this resource to privateers and supports the demand that all workers' jobs be safeguarded.
``With growing economic inequality - as witnessed in Charlie McCreevy's Budget for the wealthy - the need for working people to organise is greater than ever. Only by this means can they win better conditions and a fair share of the massive profits which they help to make for their employers.
``Sinn Féin supports the legal requirement for employers to recognise the chosen trade union of their choice.
``It further supports the call for a statutory minimum wage as demanded by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, and the repeal of the 1990 Industriual Relations Act which restricts the right to take industrial action and gives employers superior legal rights to employees.''
Paul Donnelly is a member of SIPTU. Voters in Dublin North will have the opportunity to support him and Sinn Féin during the by-election scheduled for March 11.
There will a rally for trade union rights at Ryanair at Dublin Airport on Friday 27 February from 4-7pm.
THE Sinn Féin candidate in the forthcoming Dublin North by-election has called on trade union rights to be protected.
And voicing his support for workers at Dublin Airport who are in dispute with management over trade union rights, Paul Donnelly said, ``In the dispute at Ryanair the basic constitutional right to trade union membership is at issue. We stand with workers in all industries where they are struggling for decent pay and conditions and the right to organise.
``There is an increasing trend of non-recognition of trade union membership by companies in Ireland - a trend that has gone completely unchallenged by successive governments,'' he added.
``The Ryanair dispute also highlights the reality of the so-called Celtic Tiger economy with higher wages than ever for the already well-off and a growing gap between them and the increasing number of low paid workers.
``Ireland has the highest proportion of low-paid workers in the industrial world; 600,000 people earn less than £10,000 per year; and 4,600 people earn more than £100,000 per year.
``Worsening conditions for workers are also in evidence in TEAM Aer Lingus, once hailed as a national flag ship. Sinn Féin opposes the sale of this resource to privateers and supports the demand that all workers' jobs be safeguarded.
``With growing economic inequality - as witnessed in Charlie McCreevy's Budget for the wealthy - the need for working people to organise is greater than ever. Only by this means can they win better conditions and a fair share of the massive profits which they help to make for their employers.
``Sinn Féin supports the legal requirement for employers to recognise the chosen trade union of their choice.
``It further supports the call for a statutory minimum wage as demanded by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, and the repeal of the 1990 Industriual Relations Act which restricts the right to take industrial action and gives employers superior legal rights to employees.''
Paul Donnelly is a member of SIPTU. Voters in Dublin North will have the opportunity to support him and Sinn Féin during the by-election scheduled for March 11.
There will a rally for trade union rights at Ryanair at Dublin Airport on Friday 27 February from 4-7pm.