RTE reporting news of confrontation on Irish ferries vessel

by Citizen - The Irish People Thu Nov 24, 2005 18:19

All Irish people should now boycott Irish Ferries.
Management and 15 security wearing Flak jackets including two bus loads of replacement crew are trying to take over a vessel at Pembroke.

Irish Crew are in control of engine room. So vessel can not operate.

This is the start of a plan by Irish Ferries and backed by IBEC to get rid of Irish workers for cheap labour.

The work conditions and health & safety conditions which we all take for granted are now being eroded by this move. Other employers are now watching, if this goes ahead, whose next????

Boycott Irish Ferries Now and contact your local TD's to lobby on the workers behalf.

Ring, write, protest, and BOYCOTT NOW.

by SP Member - Socialist Party/CWI Thu Nov 24, 2005 18:20

Security personnel wearing flak jackets have taken control the bridge of the Irish Ferries vessel in Pembroke. Two busloads of Eastern European workers, apparently unaware what they were getting involved in, were taken on board the ship and the Irish Ferries crew ordered to train them. Members of the crew have baracaded themselves in the engine room and disabled the ship to prevent it sailing.

by Capt Haddock Thu Nov 24, 2005 18:42

Workers rights overboard!

by an imcer Thu Nov 24, 2005 19:18

Please supply us with as much detail as you can and a couple of quotations and we will try to front page it. Phone numbers of those involved in action on ship would be much appreciated as well.

by Socialist Party Thu Nov 24, 2005 19:21

Press Statement- 24th November 2006

Union Busting Tactics of Irish Ferries Must be Met Head on by Trade Union Movement

Joe Higgins T.D. Socialist Party

The tactics of Irish Ferries management in sending a small army of private
security onto the Isle of Inishmore in order to place a crew of exploited
Latvian workers on board is reminiscent of the union busting tactics of the
American bosses in the days of Joe Hill.

This is a challenge to the entire trade union movement in Ireland which
should see this as a declaration of war on the wages and working conditions
of all workers.

The Taoiseach, the Government and so-called Social Partnership have not a
shred of credibility in face of the onslaught from Irish Ferries bosses,
which has been supported by IBEC and the Irish Exporters’ Association.

The ICTU should now organise, in conjunction with trade unions in Britain
and in France, concerted industrial action to ground Irish Ferries services
and force them to abandon their slave labour strategy.

by Tom Joad Thu Nov 24, 2005 19:27

It appears the Irish Ferries workers - or a section of them at least - have taken a leaf out of the book of their french colleagues. Once again it has been the unofficial action by workers not the union tops who have focused attention on this make or break issue.

Rather than pleading with Ahern and a rightwing government to intervene, Begg and O'Connor should be contactin their counterparts in the unions in Britain and France and organising a blacking of Irish Ferries - close the Docks to Irish Ferries!!!

On the point raised by citizen. there is no point in calling on people to boycott IF. they make the vast majority of their profits from freight - not from foot or car passangers. our orientation should be towards the organised (and un-organised) labour movement - for a blacking of all goods/services related to IF. Shut the pirates down!!

by imcer Thu Nov 24, 2005 19:33

quotes or text messages from the horses mouth - we know joe is one of the good guys

by hungry Thu Nov 24, 2005 19:38

In what appears to be a raid on its own ship Irish Ferries is believed to have hired security guards to throw the peacefully working captain and crew members off the ferry Isle of Inishmore in Pembroke, Wales.

Barbara Kelly, Siptu press officer

by Lefty type Fri Nov 25, 2005 11:06

...at work. Massive respect to all the brave workers who are occupying the Irish Ferries vessel over in Wales. This episode has gone to show how the government are cosying up to the likes of IBEC, and how they are impotent to do anything on the issue.

As Joe Higgins put it last week in the Dáil, in the case of Irish Ferries, it really is a race to the bottom. Should IF succeed in this battle, you can bet your ass that the likes of P&O and Stena Line will follow suit. After all, a low cost base is easily imitated, and favours few in the long run.

Expect this dispute to run over in the airline industry, Im surprised Michael O'Leary and Willie Walsh have yet to come out in support of the IF bosses.

To all you neo-liberal free-traders, I'm sure that you think this whole episode is a positive development, and that IF must be applauded for their innovative cost-cutting measures. Well you just wait until your job is out-sourced too and see how you feel then. Ireland's cost-base is too high to keep attracting foreign direct investment, given the fact that there is an army of workers in the Eastern-EU bloc waiting to be exploited. Seems to me that the Celtic Bubble is soon going to burst, and we can say goodbye to all the lovely MNCs that have invaded in the past few decades. Well good riddance, serves us right for adopting this corporate agenda in the first place.

by larkinite Fri Nov 25, 2005 11:16

I note the reference to the fact that the Latvians are apparently unaware of the situation they are part of, and that they are being exploited.

All scabs work for less than the rate and allow themselves to be exploited. They are still scabs and deserve the same contempt as the scumbag security men enforcing their presence on the ship. In the old days they'd all have been f*cked into the Liffey off the North Wall.

by pat c Fri Nov 25, 2005 11:30

i dont think thats the line larkin would have taken. these latvian workers are going to be super exploited, an attempt must be made to win them over. it is very likely that they didnt know the circumstances they were getting into. its possible that most of them have little if any english.

if however they continue to act as scabs after they have been properly engaged with then its a different story.

by Hebe Fri Nov 25, 2005 11:39

Tony Killeen, Minister of State for Labour Affairs was on Morning Ireland this am. When asked about the SIPTU statement that Health & Safety Legislation could be used to stop Irish Ferries, Killeen described it as "provocative, one of a series of provocative staements from SIPTU." It is clear which side Killeen is on, but he seems to be off message from Bertie.

Complain to Bertie about Killeen:

email: taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie
Phone: 01-6194020 / 4021 / 4043
Fax: 01-6764048

by larkinite Fri Nov 25, 2005 11:54

They're fking scabs. Doesn't matter whether their from Latvia or Longford. It's about time people woke up to what the bosses are at and that the left started to oppose unrestricted immigration of cheap labour that is threatening to destroy generations of hard won rights.

by pat c Fri Nov 25, 2005 12:01

you are anti immigrant. larkin would turn in his grave at the idea of your ilk using his name.

by larkinite Fri Nov 25, 2005 12:12

Yes. I'm "anti-immigrant". Go back to sleep and wake up when there are no unions and the minimum wage will be an aspiration for most of us. Of course there will be lots of nice colourful ethnic food shops to admire.

by pat c Fri Nov 25, 2005 12:16

i wish i could go to sleep and wake up to find that you and your ilk were just a nightmare. you are much more of an enemy of the working class than the latvians are.

Solidarity Forever! we will not let the working class be divided along lines of race, creed or nationality.

by pat c Fri Nov 25, 2005 12:33

This is a story of how the Immigrant Jewish workers supported the ITGWU through the Jewish Tailors and Pressers Union during the lockout of 1913. the rest of the article which is well worth reading is at the link below.



"1913 was a convulsive year for these Jewish workers, as for Dublin workers generally. Despite the trauma of the embezzlement of Union funds and the sudden disappearance of their Treasurer, these poor Jewish tailors and pressers literally gave tithes of what they possessed. With total Union funds now reduced they nonetheless donated to a fund for the members of Big Jim Larkin’s Irish Transport and General Workers Union, then suffering so much from the Lockout of 1913. That act of solidarity was repaid at the end of the year when Henry Miller’s health collapsed and he had to retire. Into the breach as the new General Secretary for the Tailors and Pressers Union stepped an organiser for Larkin’s Union, the non-Jewish socialist Walter Carpenter, who continued to work with a predominantly Jewish executive. "

by O Fri Nov 25, 2005 13:50

SIPU have called a national day of protest for next Friday when a demonstration will take place leaving from Parnell Square and going to Government Buildings.

by Larkinite Fri Nov 25, 2005 14:01

The only protest worthy of the name would be a national one day strike. That is what I will be arguing for in my union.

PS. Pat C, you will note the quotation marks around "anti immigrant". I have nothing against immigrants but am not fooled into beleiving that the current situation is meant to benefit anyone other than wage cutting, union-busting bosses.

by Joe Black Fri Nov 25, 2005 14:19

Sure wasn't he that guy who migrated to the USA and was active in the IWW a union that prided itself on recruiting migrants rather than playing the bosses game of blaming them for low wages. Not sure what he'd be making of those posting under his name here.

by Larkinite Fri Nov 25, 2005 15:06

The logic of your position is that we let these scabs take the jobs and then start to try and organise them!

Don't think Larkin tried to do that in 1913.

by arise! Fri Nov 25, 2005 15:18

Stand up, all victims of oppression,
For the tyrants fear your might!
Don't cling so hard to your possessions,
For you have nothing if you have no rights!
Let racist ignorance be ended,
For respect makes the empires fall!
Freedom is merely privilege extended,
Unless enjoyed by one and all.
So come brothers and sisters,
For the struggle carries on.
The Internationale,
Unites the world in song.
So comrades, come rally,
For this is the time and place!
The international ideal,
Unites the human race.

(Billy Bragg)

by Joe bloggs Fri Nov 25, 2005 15:31

Who I dislike more Larkinite real name klanite or Billy Luv'sBlair Bragg

by arise! Fri Nov 25, 2005 15:49

...but if you look at the words and then look at the posts before them, you might see I was attempting to make a point about racism.

by Larkinite Fri Nov 25, 2005 15:58

Easier for you to dismiss people as racists than face up to reality. IBEC are laughing at the likes of you. You don't want cheap labour undermining wages and conditions but you do want open door immigration. Make up your mind. Oh, and all that crap about uniting humanity means nothing to the men and women who are and have lost their jobs to cheap immigrant labour.

by Major Woody Fri Nov 25, 2005 16:11

is you. If your not making an 'I'm all right Jack' argument above I don't know what your doing. You should consider changing your posting name to Mr Block.

SIPTU - if you are really a member - has a focus on organising migrant workers. I don't think you are a member - I think your our resident fascist troll - your certainly playing a game fascists have done for decades.

by Major Woody Fri Nov 25, 2005 16:22

The rest of the story is at the link below - again Larkin was an IWW organiser in the USA so change your name - Mr Block

Last frame of cartoon captures the message

by Larkinite Fri Nov 25, 2005 16:35

If you are aiming that at me, you are way off the mark.

First of all, I am not a SIPTU member, and never claimed to be. Am a union member though and will be supporting action in support of the IF workers.

I won't even dignify your accusation that I am a fascist with a response other than to say that if you said it to my face, you would regret it.

by Connollyite Fri Nov 25, 2005 16:43

"You don't want cheap labour undermining wages and conditions but you do want open door immigration."

You are the one who is conflating two different things. There are no reasons why the Government can't deal with this problem. The problem is - is that our Catholic Socialist Taoiseach is doing his Janus trick but this time he won't get away with it. He'll have to take sides.

by Larkinite Fri Nov 25, 2005 17:02

The two issues are inextricably linked. The whole point behind the current EU agenda is to facilitate the free movement of capital and labour. The rationale behind it is to reduce costs. The way you do that is to move cheap labour from low wage areas to relatively high wage areas. Hence the influx of immigrant workers from the new accession states. Workers and those on the left who argue that open door immigration is a good thing - as all of the left parties do - are playing into the hands of the bosses, who not only have a huge pool of cheap labour with which to undermine Irish wages and conditions, but have the left making the ideological justifications for it!

As you say, the state does have the power to intervene, but the only meaningful intervention would be the one where immigration of workers is strictly limited to those who are being given jobs with the same conditions as already exist. Don't hold your breath, but it is a demand that the union movement should be making.

by Con Carroll - Class War Fri Nov 25, 2005 17:10

stand with the workers on strike in Irish Ferries.
No to EXPLOITATION
industrial wage for everyone. 7 euro 65
spread the word DIRECT ACTION WORKS
FUCK THE BOSSES OF IRISH FERRIES.
TRADE UNION RIGHTS.

by M O'C - Supporter of CP of Australia (Marxist-Leninist) Sun Nov 27, 2005 00:52

A chairde,

The working class movement here in Australia is facing a period of protracted struggle to defend gains which the bourgeoisie had granted from the 50's on.

What I'd like to draw attention to is the way in which some trade union leaders here are prepared to break the law to defend workers rights.

Greg Combet from the ACTU said in a recent speech -

**************************

"The most important thing unions do on building sites is protect the safety of workers.

And yet the Government wants to smash the building unions.

It will put lives at risk.

I want the Prime Minister to know something right now.

We will hold the Government to account for the human cost of these laws.

Just as we supported the maritime workers when they were targeted, we will support building workers and their families.

All of us face risks under the new laws - even for doing bread and butter union work.

It will be illegal to ask for workers to be protected against unfair dismissal when negotiating an agreement - and there's a $33,000 fine just for asking.
And there will be a $33,000 fine for asking for union involvement in a disputes settlement procedure.
A $33,000 fine for asking for the right for people to attend union education courses.
A $33,000 fine for asking to protect jobs against contracting out.
A $33,000 fine for asking for a commitment to collectively bargain.
And a $33,000 fine for asking for anything else the Government might like to ban.
These are scandalous abuses of democratic rights.

But we will not be intimidated.

Unions must continue to stand up for people.

As a union leader let me make this clear.

I will not pay a $33,000 fine for asking for people to be treated fairly.

Because the Government has gone too far.

On such a fundamental issue we must look the Government in the eye and stare them down.

I will be asking other union leaders to do the same.

********************

Combet is here alluding to the example of Clarrie O'Shea http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarrie_O'Shea
a Marxist-Leninist and Union boss whose jailing in 1969 led to a General Strike against anti-worker legislation.

Are there leaders in the trade union mov't in Ireland who are prepared to go to jail if need be to defy these laws or will it be "Social partnership" to the end? Will SIPTU leaders 'stare the government down'
It is either that or leave the next generation of Irish children an industrial relations system worse than we inherited ourselves.

Thomas Davis comes to mind -

"That chainless wave and lovely, land
Freedom and Nationhood demand-
Be sure, the great God never plann'd,
For slumbering slaves, a home so grand"


With regard to Jewish workers in Ireland it should be noted that Jews had a long association with the socialist movement. Saothar the Irish Labour History journal had a great essay on the Jews and the ISRP a few years ago.
I have no idea as to the dominant ideology in Latvia but I'm sure notions of workers solidarity are not state policy. Latvia allows the commemoration of its citizens who fought with the Nazis in the Second World War. Regardless of their nationality they are scabs, and should be dealt with as such.


M O'C
ex-SIPTU activist
Brisbane

by Spotter Sun Nov 27, 2005 11:44

I would have thought that, after the collapse of the the one true socialist wonderland of Albania and the shafting of icon Enver Hoxha, you guys would have thrown your hat at it.

by M O'C - Supporter CP of Australia (Marxist-Leninist) Sun Nov 27, 2005 13:59

"....as we speak the
People's Liberation Army surrounds Kathmandu. It may still be there as
the Russian model meets the Chinese model, and the red star long
hidden below the historical horizon reappears, this time in the
Himalayan sky."

from
http://www.counterpunch.org/leupp11262005.html

by pat c Tue Nov 29, 2005 11:59

Do you have a contact emall add for yourself or your party?