Irish Ferries

national | worker & community struggles and protests | press release

Monday December 05, 2005 17:26

by Joe Higgins T.D. - Socialist Party

National Implementation Body proposals - a shabby betrayal of workers’ rights

The basis on which the National Implementation Body (NIB) recommends discussion between Irish Ferries and SIPTU already represents a shabby betrayal of workers’ rights.

The NIB’s use of language is dishonest, disingenuous and designed to be treacherously ambiguous.

Thus Irish Ferries is asked to “suspend” its flagging out - For how long? – A week? - A fortnight? - Until something is cobbled together and then it can go ahead?

According to the NIB’s statement: “the terms and conditions of employees who are recruited to work on these Irish Ferries vessels in the future should reflect, inter alia, Irish minimum wage arrangements, in the context of the unique nature of the contracts of employment which typically operate in the maritime sector, and to the competitive pressures faced by the company”. This is even worse. What does “reflect” mean? A very pale reflection perhaps? The mirror is provided; all that is missing is the smoke! Surely the terms of any agreement with regard to existing employees should be “reflected” in an agreement of a binding character? Clearly this is a very thinly disguised abject surrender to Irish Ferries’ demands.

It is a betrayal of the men and women who have served the maritime industry for a lifetime. It is an insult to the courage of Irish Ferries’ Officers who have occupied the Isle of Inishmore for 12 days and the other Officers and Seafarers who have grounded Irish Ferries ships until the company abandons its slave labour plans.