Workplace News
Socialist Party expresses solidarity with Element Six workers
Members of the Socialist Party in Limerick went out to the Element Six plant in Shannon Industrial Estate on 28 July, to express our solidarity with the workers' struggle against the companies job massacre, and terrible redundancy package. Here we reproduce the solidarity statement distributed
Electricians’ Strike: ‘Vital that all workers support this strike’:
Socialist Party public representatives Joe Higgins MEP and Cllr Clare Daly have declared their support for the strike of 10,000 electricians to defend wages and conditions in the construction industry.
Support the Electricians strike
Don't believe the lies!
Electricians are saying that they are not prepared to be rolled over. They are willing to fight and should be supported by all organised workers and the unemployed. The “Race to the Bottom” must be stopped!
Rob Williams reinstatement a victory for all workers
Socialist Party reporters (CWI in England & Wales)
Rob Williams, leading Socialist Party (CWI in England & Wales) member and vice-chair of the National Shop Stewards Network (NSSN), has won his campaign against Linamar management in Swansea, who summarily sacked him without notice for an "irretrievable breakdown of trust".The news of Rob William's unconditional reinstatement as convenor in the Linamar car parts factory in Swansea is a victory for all workers and militant trade unionism.
Tesco – every billion helps!
By Councillor Mick Murphy
EMPLOYERS AND the government are using the economic crisis to push through cuts in workers wages and working conditions.
Senior managers in modern industry, many of whom have MBAs, are well versed in managing during a crisis and lately their training is being put to good use in so far as they are taught to never waste a good crisis. In almost every company the top brass have taken their cue from the downturn and are attacking any and all conditions.
SR Technics – Workers should occupy and demand re nationalisation
Statement from Joe Higgins
As venture capitalists seal their plan to smash 1,150 jobs at SR Technics by selling off the Landing Gear and Auxiliary Power Unit, the Irish Government and trade union leadership are in a state of pathetic paralysis. They simply stand by and allow the dictatorship of the market to lay waste to an invaluable industry and source of jobs. SR Technics workers should immediately occupy the plant at Dublin Airport, prevent the sale of machinery and demand renationalisation of what was a publicly owned enterprise until Fianna Fail and the Progressive Democrats privatised it.
Joe Higgins – OECD Implies Newly Employed Should Be Pauperised
Creation of Reserve Army of Very Cheap Labour the Aim
The paper Activation Policies in Ireland presented by the OECD to today 's ESRI Conference in Dublin strongly implies that benefits should be cut for the unemployed. The thrust of the paper tends to put the blame for high unemployment on the unemployed rather than on the economic crisis that generates joblessness.
Waterford Crystal – Nationalisation was the only option
By Cillian Gillespie and Stephen Boyd
AN EIGHT week long occupation of Waterford Crystal ended after the workforce reluctantly voted to accept a "deal". One worker at the end of the four hour long meeting said that he felt the deal was "like a gun to the head" of the workforce.
There were 708 people working in Waterford Crystal, now there will be only 176 jobs some of them are only guaranteed for six months. The so-called redundancy fund is a miserly €10 million to be divided between more than 800 workers and ex-workers. The workers’ pensions (affecting 1,800 people) are still in a mess and the fund is €120 million short.
SR Technics: Fight for re-nationalisation
By Councillor Clare Daly
THE ANNOUNCEMENT of the loss of 1100 jobs in SR Technics and the virtual shutting of the operation is a cynical exploitation of the situation in the Irish economy by this wealthy and successful multi-national. The impact on Dublin’s northside would at least be on the scale of Waterford Crystal and Dell in Waterford and Limerick respectively. It must be halted.
ICTU’s 10 Point Plan: Is it fairer or better?
By Kevin McLoughlin
ICTU’s PLAN was to threaten a national strike on 30 March in the hope of forcing new negotiations around their 10 point so-called social solidarity programme There is a better, fairer way.
ICTU’s social solidarity programme relates to jobs, unemployment, pay and the banks. It says those who lose their jobs should be kept at 80% of their earnings for two years, via social welfare, on condition that they go on retraining. It also says bosses should resist lay-offs, and instead consider cutting the working week.
