Dunnes reinstate sacked shop steward

by Jason - Organise! Sat Feb 25, 2006 00:02 organiseireland at yahoo dot ie P.O. Box 505, Belfast, BT12 6BQ

Joanne's reinstatement is a victory for workers everywhere facing harassment and intimidation at work. It is a victory that defends and reasserts the right of workers to organise free from bullying, intimidation and harassment.

The campaign for Joanne's reinstatement had been growing over the past number of weeks with pickets of more and more Dunnes stores. Everyone who was engaged in acts of solidarity with Joanne has had a part to play in this victory.

In the north the initiative in picketing Dunnes outlets was taken by Organise! who were quickly joined by others, including the Belfast and District Trades Union Council, in the demand that Joanne be reinstated and the right of workers to organise be upheld. Congratulations to Joanne and everyone involved in this campaign.

by kevin - imc eire Sat Feb 25, 2006 00:04

This is great to hear.

by Graham Ó Maonaigh - Labour Youth Sat Feb 25, 2006 03:14

Congratulations to Joanne and hopefully Dunnes' will start recognising Unions and their representiatives.

by Davy Carlin - Organise! Sat Feb 25, 2006 10:16

It shows when we stand together, and across that thin line of the North and South that 'divides us', that such unity is strength - this as proven, again, in real terms.

Well done alll who lent, provided, and initiated all various acts of solidarity.

A great result -well done all.

by Dublinfidel Sat Feb 25, 2006 11:50

So have Dunnes Stores now changed their employee dress code to allow badges?
Or was this just a cynical stunt by the unions?

by Supporter Mon Feb 27, 2006 17:57

Joanne was back at work today with her Mandate badge pinned to her uniform.

Well done Joanne

by Alan MacSimoin - Workers Solidarity Movement Tue Feb 28, 2006 12:32

Great to see Dunnes backing down and reinstating Joanne.

Management thought they would have another go at the union in a store where only a minority are unionised. They clearly didn't expect the letters and emails of protest, the threat of losing some customers, the solidarity protests.

Joanne was very courageous in standing her ground. The protests organised by the local support group and the socialist & anarchist organisations did make a difference.

It's a small victory but one we should be publicising. If we dare to fight, we also dare to win. If we never fight back, we never win.

by Michael R Tue Feb 28, 2006 12:53

Fantastic news! Congradulations to Joanne for her incredibly brave stance. And congradulations to all those who were behind her and helped her to be re-instated.

I would have been extremely suprised if this was not the eventual outcome. Dunnes could not afford the adverse publicity and it was an incredibly stupid move on their part.

This is a good victory for Justice and Human Rights. But nevertheless only a small one in the bigger scheme of things. I would now like to see this victory being built upon. In a previous Indymedia article Mandate agreed they would pursue the idea of a National Wear Your Union Badge Day throughout Dunnes Stores outlets:-

"At its recent Executive meeting.Mandate agreed that a budget would be set aside to support solidarity action to back Joanne’s demand for reinstatement. it was also agreed to pursue the idea the idea of a National Wear Your Union Badge Day throughout Dunnes Stores outlets"

http://www.indymedia.ie/article/74468

There is nothing like momentum and NOW is the time to work and move on this. And of course why stop at Dunnes - There should be a designated National Wear Your Union Badge Day for EVERYONE throughout Ireland. In a previous comment I suggested this might conincide with MayDay. On second thoughts it would probably be better to have this on a seperate day so as to sort of create two Labour Days in the calender.

I really hope this is pursued.