SIPTU's Sweetheart Deal
dublin |
worker & community struggles and protests |
news report 
Wednesday June 09, 2004 14:29
by Unionwatch
Details of the Sweetheart Deal between SIPTU and Connex
Maybe this is old news but it's the first I heard of it.
SIPTU have agreed a 'closed shop' deal with Connex for the new Dublin tram system obliging all workers to be SIPTU members and forbidding them from switching union.
The pay-off for Connex is that SIPTU have agreed that 'there will be no industrial action of any form during the lifetime of this agreement.'
Days like this that remind me why I resigned from SIPTU.
http://www.eiro.eurofound.ie/print/2003/11/inbrief/ie0311202n.html
Comments (7 of 7)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7That clause was a precondition to their being union representation in that company at all and is a consequence of the penalities that Connex have to pay for cancellations.
There are plenty of things that union members can do in cases of industrial strife instead of striking, BTW, like not collecting fares etc.
SIPTU is not perfect - nor is any other union. It would have been much better for you to have been in and fighting than out and moaning.
Yes, there are many things a union can do besides striking, but the phrase 'no industrial action of any kind' obviously includes all of those things. Go-slows, not collecting fares, etc, are also forms of industrial action and appear to be ruled out by this sell-out deal which the union bosses have made with the corporate bosses. This leaves the workers totally screwed in any negotiations, unless they can find an effective way to organise outside of the union (difficult but maybe not impossible) or can force the union to ignore the immoral agreement.
All Unions might not be perfect, but some are less perfect than others. I left SIPTU to join another Union.
No surpises in the deal. Siptu are interested in getting more members to pay for the pensions of their officials and the private health insurance deals they all have. Any wonder they won´t defend health services and sign away rights.
What's the point of a union that promises not to take industrial action?
Apparently the deal was signed on or about the 90th anniversary of the 1913 lockout - which started on the trams.
If you want a signal of how bad SIPTU has got check out O'Connors statement on aer rianta over the last few days, assuring people there will be no strike and talking of the numbers that would be affected if there was. Way to police your members, Jack.
There are problems in my union too, but Jesus if I was paying the wages of officials who consistently sided with employers and government against the members i would have to think twice.
Since social partnership was introduced the system of trade unions in this country has gone to the dogs.Mary harney and her friends in IBEC must be delighted. Jim Larkin must be turning in his grave.
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