Solidarity with Thomas Cook sit-in

by Kevin Higgins Tue Aug 04, 2009 02:25

This poem is dedicated to the Thomas Cook workers in their defiance of the court order and to every worker who has ever fought in whatever way to overcome an abusive employer.

A Brief History Of Those Who Made Their Point Politely
And Then Went Home

On this day of tear-gas in Seoul
and windows broken at Dickins & Jones,
I can’t help wondering why a history
of those, who made their point politely
and then went home, has never been written.

Those who, in the heat of the moment,
never dislodged a policeman’s helmet,
never blocked the traffic or held the country to ransom.
Someone should ask them: “Was it all worth it?”

All those proud men and women, who never
had the National Guard sent in against them;
who left everything exactly as they found it,
without adding as much as a scratch to the paintwork;
who no-one bothered asking: “Are you or have you ever been?”
because we all knew damn well they never ever were.

Kevin Higgins

The Boy With No Face, (Salmon Poetry, 2005) http://www.salmonpoetry.com/theboy.html

by Fred Johnston Tue Aug 04, 2009 02:15 087.2178138

http://www.youtube.com/user/DonalSWP

This is the address for YouTube video of the occupation as it was forwarded to me. Anyone who has not signed their online petition should set about doing it now. I have sent out the petition address to as many people as I could think of early this evening. A portion of the e-mailed statement read:

"Workers occupying the Thomas Cook shop in Dublin today defied a High Court order, requested by the Company, to vacate the shop. They have now been told that the police will arrive and arrest anyone who is still in the shop. They will have to appear in court and be given a prison sentance.
After an emotional discussion when solicitors told the mainly female workers, two of whom are pregnant, the workers decided that they would remain in the shop and not be bullied by Thomas Cook. A rally was held this morning with supporters ranging from the Lord Mayor to striking Dublin dockers."

by Cian P Sun Aug 02, 2009 19:28

Poster of the protest march

by Lock-in supporter Sun Aug 02, 2009 18:40

10.30am. GRAFTON ST STORE Monday 3rd August
Millionare Thomas Cook boss, Manny Fontenla-Novoa, has decided to scrap the 130 year old Thomas Cook business in Dublin, making 77 workers redundant.

He has also offered to reward their long service with a redundancy package of 3 weeks above the statutory - a sum that is 14 times less than the 7million euro bonus he recieved at the beginning of this year.

COME AND SHOW YOUR SUPPORT.