Ógra Shinn Féin occupy IBEC Offices ahead of Irish Ferries march

by (",) Thu Dec 08, 2005 12:59

Fairplay...



Any pics?

by Sarah Thu Dec 08, 2005 13:30

Given Sinn Féin's cosy relationship with big business interests and continued funding from North American business its kinda strange that they are occupying IBEC's offices. They might be better off doing something practical for Friday's demo like delivering leaflets rather than seeking attention for themselves off the backs of exploited workers.

by sparkles Thu Dec 08, 2005 13:47

maybe they let the ogres get all that socialism out of their system before sucking the life out of them in the main party...

fairplay though lads. pretty cool.
pity it has to be a nationalist party...

by larkinite Thu Dec 08, 2005 13:56

Maybe they ought to use their time in the IBEC offices to reflect on the fact that SF and other left parties share the same immigration policies as IBEC. You know, the ones that allow employers to have access to tens of thousands of low paid workers.

by pat c Thu Dec 08, 2005 14:16

the left parties want workers to be allowed in so that they can have the same opportunities as irish migrants had. the irish built unions in the US at a time when they were spat on ans accused of undermining the wages of existing US workers.

well the unions will have to redouble their efforts to unionise both irish and immigrant workers. the bosses are the enemy, be they irish born or foreign.

by CON CARROLL - CLASS WAR Thu Dec 08, 2005 14:21

nice one oghra

by larkinite Thu Dec 08, 2005 14:24

If there are tens of thousands of workers from low wage parts of the EU it brings down wages here. That's not rocket science. Therefore anyone who advocates open borders immigration logically supports lower wages. All the talk about uniting workers means no more than if you quote from the fking Buddhist Sutras or Aleister Crowley.

by pat c Thu Dec 08, 2005 14:28

its not rocket science to unionise workers. it doesnt come from the teacjings of crowley. it comes from the divine gospel of discontent: written by larkin and connolly.

by pat c Thu Dec 08, 2005 14:45

More Welsh solidarity. Workers of the World Unite!

Protest held over ferry dispute
Around 100 people have taken part in a demonstration to support Irish Ferries workers in dispute with the company.
Ship crews at Holyhead and Pembroke Dock have protested for nearly two weeks over plans to replace staff with cheaper workers from eastern Europe.

Wednesday's demonstration in Holyhead was organised by the International Transport Workers Federation (ITWF) and backed by the Wales TUC.

Talks have been taking place in Ireland between unions and company officials.

Ships in port

The dispute has left two Irish Ferries ships stuck in two Welsh ports for nearly a fortnight.

The Isle of Inishmore, moored in Pembroke Dock, and the Ulysses, docked in Holyhead, were due to sail on 25 November but have remained in port since the dispute began.


Around 15 members of the crew of each ship barricaded themselves on board, forcing the ships to remain on the Welsh coast.

Crew members are protesting at plans to replace staff with cheaper workers, but Irish Ferries has said it needs to bring in foreign staff to remain competitive.

The company added it had been completely open about what it was doing over bringing in new crews as part of a cost-cutting exercise.

The company said competition from low-cost airlines, high fuel prices and Irish ship workers earning more money mean it will not make profits after 2007 without radical change.

'Visible demonstration'

The protest in Holyhead was organised by the ITWF and supported by the Wales TUC and Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) who have also called for a day of protest in Dublin on 9 December over the dispute.

The Wales TUC said it would repeat the demonstration if there was no resolution in the dispute.

Jack O'Connor, General President of Irish union Siptu, which represents many of the Irish Ferries workers, said: "We very much appreciate the support of Welsh trade unionists at this time.

"It is a very visible demonstration to our members of the Ulysses and the Isle of Inishmore that they are not alone."

The Holyhead protest followed a similar demonstration, which was held at Pembroke Dock on Saturday.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/wales/north_west/4507914.stm

Published: 2005/12/07 20:22:02 GMT

by Ógra supporter Thu Dec 08, 2005 16:07

If anyone wants to help us leaflet they have only to contact us.

A strange concept of political action where youo limit yourself to either an occupation or leafletting but not both.

by pat c Thu Dec 08, 2005 16:13

what do you think you are acheiving by knocking an organisation that stands foursquare in support of the demo?

OSF have not taken a nationalist line here: they are being internationalists by supporting both irish and immigrant workers. thats why our anti-immigrant friend "larkinite" is getting so hot and bothered.

by Dermot L - Labour Youth (personal capacity) Fri Dec 09, 2005 02:22

Congrats to all involved. It's a pity it didn't last longer, in this instance an occupation is a very legitimate tactic and IBEC's complicity in this scandal has been highly signifcant. Here's to a real day of ACTION tomorrow.