Support the builders

Monday January 27, 2003 18:29

by Phuq Hedd

Hunger strike announced in bitter strike

Approximately 1000 builders are on strike in Limerick. We should remember that BAFTA and other unions representing builders have been attempting to secure decent wages and conditions for people that labour in probably the most dangerous industry in the world. They have been blocked and opposed by employers who would rather hire uninsured, underpaid and desperate immigrants.

The approximately 1000 builders have announced a hunger strike by at least 4 of their members in an attempt to secure justice and a fair hearing for their position.

Their "wildcat" strike has been condemned by the Business Federation: the same body that has consistently opposed raising the safety standard in this industry.

With reports of the exploitation of un-unionised immigrants (including the non-payment of their wages) and the refusal of employers to pay a wage commensurate with the hard work these people do, this strike looks like the last option. So far good support for the builders has only been offered by a few of the political parties: Republican Sinn Fein and the Workers Party notably.

So, where's the Labour Party on this one? What about the Socialist Party and the Green Party? Meanwhile, phone or write your TD to insist that he support the builders.

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Comments (11 of 11)

Erratum:

Mon Jan 27, 2003 18:29

Business Federation should have been Construction Industry Federation.

erm..

by disgruntled director

Mon Jan 27, 2003 18:47

i think you mean BATU (Building & Allied Trades Union) not BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts)

idiot.

by jimmy

Mon Jan 27, 2003 19:11

Good to hear the British Film Industry is on the side of the workers!

SIPTU 1-Day strike on Wednesday February 5th

by Paul Kinsella - Various

Mon Jan 27, 2003 19:46

paulkinsella53 at yahoo dot com

53 Lorcan Grove, Santry, Dublin 9, Eire

087-9748511

I just heard on the radio that SIPTU have called a 1-Day strike on Wednesday February 5th in the construction in protest at the recent deaths on building sites and the poor health and safety standards on building sites nationwide plus the fact that the builders are forcing the workers to register as self-employed therby denying the workers any social welfare benefits should they get injured and be off work or if as is increasingly likely that many building workers will be joining our dole queues due to the slumping Irish economy. Accordin to Eric Fleming, Secretary Of SIPTU's Construction Branch, this 1-Day strike on Wednesday February 5th will be an all-out nationwide 24-hour strike involving all SIPTU workers in the building sector.

Erratum 2

Mon Jan 27, 2003 21:17

yep "disgruntled director" that's what I meant. Thanks for the clarification.

Phuq head / Muppet Head

by just confirming what I though

Mon Jan 27, 2003 21:29

is there no more than a handful of republicans out there who can coherently argue a point and remember even a tiny amount of factual information before they cross over to their fanciful world where what they say really bears on anyones life asides from their own, particularly RSF - asides from the spartacists i can't think of a more irrelevent group in this country.

im sure building workers in this country would be as well to say thanks but no thanks to the type of support you / your ilk have on offer. lets be honest the republican fraternity have more allegiance to the building / sub contractor than they ever had for your average building worker, twenty two of whom have died in the last year at the hands of the above mentioned contractors.

stick to the national question, at least it doesnt' perturb the rest of us as much when you make a fuckin mess of that.

anyhow must go, want to vote for a BATU shop steward for this years Oscars.

UUUURRRAAAGGGGHHHH!!!!! THE BUILDERS!!!!

by MAYO

Tue Jan 28, 2003 01:07

We're not just another brick in the wall

Gosh. Such anti-republican vitriol

Tue Jan 28, 2003 02:04

Now I know what Pat C talks about when he claims that Republicans are attacked every time they're mentioned on Indymedia.

So, care to substantiate any of your allegations about how republicans have more to do with employers in the construction industry than they do with employees?

So far, as the original article points out, it looks like Republicans (of various stripes) are the only ones that have offered any direct public support to the strikers. (Combine that with SF support for the Dublin strikers and you have what amounts to a deafening silence from the rest of the political parties).

substantiate

by -------

Tue Jan 28, 2003 12:52

COLM MURPHY OF OMAGH BOMB FAME, WHO WAS HE MUPPET HEAD??? - PLUS EVEN A CURSORY LOOK AT THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IN THE NORTH SHOWS THAT ITS IS RUN BY PARAMILITARY GANGSTERS (OF BOTH PERSUASIONS I WOULD ADD).

Main point I'm making is that the republican movement has never and can never be more than a fair weather friend to the working class. it really is a reflection of the lack of a real workers party that you people ever get an ear of workers in the first place. No doubt when things do hot up in this country as I hope to fuck they will, people like you and Pat'kermit d frog C' will be historically swept aside. Ah it'll be great won't it :-)

One instance and a rant do not equal substantiation

Tue Jan 28, 2003 17:04

Again, what you have to show is that republicans have more to do with the employers than the employees.

To spell that out again for you: you have to show that there are MORE republicans involved with the bosses than the workers.

And FYI I am NOT a Republican.

Your hysterical ranting does nothing to make your point.

I still find it disturbing that such an issue is only picked up on quickly by republicans and it is to their credit compared to other parties.

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Support the builders

Comments (11 of 11)