Taking a Stand for Agency Workers

national | worker & community struggles and protests | news report

Tuesday February 19, 2008 23:56

by Paula Geraghty

mspgeraghty at yahoo dot ie

This evening many across the trade Union sector came out to the Dáil to show their support and solidarity with agency workers in Ireland.

Tonight Siptu organised a protest in support of Agency Workers while the Dail discusses labour law. This was a motion put down by Labour and Sinn Féin, all speakers were enthusiastic that parties of the left were taking such an initiative.

'This is an opportunity to show unity between Irish and migrant workers, and to say that "an injury to one is the concern of all".

Many in the trade union movement hope that a solution can be found in the bargaining around the next stage of 'social partnership'. That may or may not happen, though the government's record in relation to the non-pay parts of previous agreements is pretty feeble.

The bosses (which includes the owners of the rogue agencies and the owners of the firms who use them) are not our partners. They want to screw as much as possible out of us, which is what 'competitiveness', 'restructuring', 'new ways of working' and 'increased productivity' are usually about.

The best way to win a better deal for our fellow workers is to show that we will stand with them and refuse to let the weakest be trampled on by greedy employers.'

SIPTU Shop Steward, Conor O'Gorman, speaks about his experiences as an agency worker in the construction industry in Ireland.
http://www.siptu.ie/agency/
click on the YouTube video

If you are an agency worker theres lots more info on the Siptu website. Many Unions turned out in force this evening, Impact, Amicus, Mandate to name but a few.

All images are copyright. Respect my rights as a freelance worker. Paula Geraghty