éirígí Green Isle motion unanimously supported by Dublin City Council

national | worker & community struggles and protests | news report

Wednesday March 03, 2010 17:09

by éirígí PRO - éirígí

éirígí's Louise Minihan succeeded on Monday, March 1, in getting an emergency motion passed by Dublin City Council in support of the protesting Green Isle staff and those currently on hunger strike.

'An injury to one, is a concern to all'

On Monday evening [March 1], Dublin City Council unanimously backed an emergency motion tabled by éirígí activist, councillor Louise Minihan in support of the striking workers at the Green Isle plant in Nass, County Kildare.

The motion, which read:

“That this council supports and sends solidarity to the striking workers at the Green Isle plant in Nass, who have been on official strike for more than 6 months;

notes with interest that the Labour Court has ruled in their favour;
notes also that the management of the company and their parent company Northern Foods has refused to engage with the Union (TEEU) or the industrial relations mechanisms of this state and therefore, left the workers no other option but to resort to a hunger strike to seek a satisfactory resolution to the strike;
and that this Council demands the company abide by the ruling of the Labour Court and reinstate the workers immediately.”

will now be forwarded to every council in the Twenty-Six Counties for voting on.

The official strike action, by the Technical Engineering & Electrical Union [TEEU], has already lasted for over six months, and centres on the unfair dismissal of three members of staff at the plant. Despite the fact that the Twenty-Six County Labour Court ruled overwhelmingly in favour of the workers, Green Isle and its British-based parent company, Northern Foods, have rejected the ruling and refused to engage with either the Labour Court or the union.

This intransigence has left the striking workers with no option but to embark on a hunger strike in an effort to get the recommendations of the Labour Court implemented.

On Wednesday, February 17, Jim Wyse, a TEEU shop steward, was the first to begin the hunger strike. He was joined on Wednesday, February 24 by John Guinan, and they will be joined by another hunger striker tomorrow [Wednesday] and every subsequent Wednesday until the dispute is resolved.

Speaking after the council meeting, Minihan said: “The business class and their cronies in Leinster House have declared war on the workers of this state, and the strikers at Green Isle have found themselves on the front line. It is outrageous and totally unacceptable for any company to refuse to engage with a trade union, or to refuse to implement a Labour Court ruling because they don’t get their own way. The bosses need to learn that workers will not lie down and be walked all over.

“The strikers at Green Isle have been an inspiration to Irish workers and, like the workers at Thomas Cooke and Visteon, have shown that the working class can fight back.”

Minihan continued: “Last night’s motion was about putting pressure on this company to recognise the rights of its workforce. It can hopefully end the despicable situation where union members have been forced to fight back with the drastic option of hunger strike.

“éirígí is fully supportive of the Green Isle strikers and the party will continue to do whatever it can to highlight the issue.”

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Comments (7 of 7)

Independents

by John

Fri Mar 05, 2010 16:03

at least 3 others on dublin city council

confused

by wary

Thu Mar 04, 2010 14:35

Are any other independent councillrs members of political parties?

Joint statement on behalf of Green Isle Foods Limited and the TEEU

Thu Mar 04, 2010 13:05

Re: Industrial Relations Dispute

Naas, 3 March, 2010:

'Green Isle Foods Limited, a major employer in Co Kildare, and the TEEU (Technical Engineering and Electrical Union) are pleased to confirm that the mediation process to resolve the industrial dispute at the company's manufacturing site in Naas has been concluded, with both parties agreeing to be bound by the proposals put forward by the independent mediators.

The agreement will be implemented, and accordingly, all forms of industrial action and other activity will cease with immediate effect. Both parties will be bound by confidentiality under the terms of the mediation agreement.

Both parties acknowledge the efforts and assistance of all involved in reaching agreement, and in particular pay tribute to Mr Bernard Durkan TD and Mr Jack Wall TD who facilitated the independent mediation process. '

The dispute is now at an end. Thanks again to éirígí for there support of the workers.

TOB

Wed Mar 03, 2010 21:36

There were 2 Seperate motions, one from Louise and éirígí and one from the Sinn Fein Group, both were passed.

Confused

by TomásOB

Wed Mar 03, 2010 21:24

Was this a Sinn Fein Motion or an Éirigi motion, Éirigi are claiming the motion aswell, could someone please clear this up for me thanks.

http://www.eirigi.org/latest/latest030310.html

go figure

by conor

Wed Mar 03, 2010 19:56

She is in Eirigi, but she is an independent cllr. Simple!

independent?

by h.a.g.

Wed Mar 03, 2010 19:23

So she is "Eirígí's Louise Minihan" now? Has she joined the party? On the Dublin City Council website she is listed as "Independent". http://www.dublincity.ie/YourCouncil/Councillors/YourLo....aspx

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éirígí Green Isle motion unanimously supported by Dublin City Council

Comments (7 of 7)