National Day of Action against Irish ferries called

by Jim Tue Nov 29, 2005 18:04

The demonstration in Dublin is meeting in Parnell Square at 1.30 pm and marching to the Dáil. Plans for demonstrations in other locations around the country have yet to be announced.

This demonstration is likely to be the largest trade union mobilisation in years.

by NC Tue Nov 29, 2005 18:39

Just on the last comment, blaming trade union decline on national level partnership arrangements seems to be misdirected. Theres a range of reasons why unions have suffered declining density levels, including economic factors/structural factors and increased difficulties in gaining recognition at plant level......Regardless of whether or not unions are involved in partnership they will still face difficulty in growing drives largely because of the relatively toothless industrial relations legislation thats out there.

by Mark H - SP Tue Nov 29, 2005 19:51

Why the delay with the demo? Why not this Friday?
Surely we should strike when the iron is hot. Speaking of Strike, why no General Strike? If this provocative attack on workers rights doesn't warrant one, what does?

by - Tue Nov 29, 2005 20:55

1:30?
Damn,I probably won't be able to attend.
Fecking school,damn it.I'm in too much crap to go on the mitch,a few of the other lads intended to go along too..
I hope the rally gets a great turnout none the less,and the people make their feelings known.

by Tommy Donnellan - Anti-War Tue Nov 29, 2005 21:26

Alright Mark H, you've got the right idea, a General Strike should be called, same as when Iraq was criminally attacked but pusillanimous ICTU is again indulging in tokenism. What the hell does it take for these pussies to do the right thing : to seriously confront this criminal government of ours, over, besides what is happening in Irish Ferries, what has happened and is happening in Shannon Warport and also, to confront its collusion with Shell in criminalising dissent in Erris.

Beside contemptible ICTU, what does it take, to get the outraged of this country out on to the streets "in unvanquishable number, like lions after slumber" ?. Shelley, sleep on.

by Pragmatist Tue Nov 29, 2005 23:50

Let us welcome the day of protest, no matter how limited it may seem, and strive to get as many people on the streets as possible.

A General Strike would be ideal but totally impractical because under current legislation you can only have a strike against your employer in a legitimate trade dispute.. If a general strike took place. Trade Unions would be open to being sued in multimillion law claims and face possible bankruptcy. ( Remember the Nolan Transport dispute when Siptu were nearly taken to the cleaners and the news this week in the
UK that British Airways might sue the TGWU in a £43 million lawsuit for allegedly supporting the unofficial GateGourmet strike).
some might guffaw`at the prospectof unions being sued but remember for all the roaring and shouting in forums like this it is the Unions who are currently in the vanguard of the struggle against the massive exploitation of cheap labour.
So comrades, less talk and more walk. See you on the ninth.

by Tommy Donnellan - Anti-War Campaign/Shell to Sea Wed Nov 30, 2005 03:18

Alright mouse, I hear your special pleading; that contemptible ICTU and the fellow-travellers of your timorous ilk should abide by our manque masters legislation that seeks to muzzle and attenuate democratic dissent and social justice, up to us, I say to rage, rage against the facilitators of the capitalist machine and to bring the fuckers to heel a- la Sandista/Chavez style and let social justice have its sway?.

The law, as you put it, that says 'thou can only protest thus' in any state's malevolently controlling arsenal of legislation, whose provenance is control and not justice has to be held in contempt and, per se, broken, you, it is self-evident has internalised your master's command and only want us to squeak from their enslaving hymn sheet of warped ideology and legislation.

True law to be adhered to, has to be foundationed in self-evident justice, social or otherwise, not in the stinking mask of sepulchral, coercive, amoral corporatist/capitalist power that is rampant in the Thatcherist/Mammon Ireland of today, and then maybe, when that happens, as Arthur Rimbaud put it way back in the 19th century, "May it come, it will come, the time we are enamoured of, where all hearts meet, all wines flow".

To put it further, it has come, it has come, the time where the timorous cowed beasties of ICTU and your ilk is being forced back into the woodwork and the spirit of the men and women of '98 and 1916, the spirit of the Caracas favelas that came down from that New Jerusalem's hills, to stymie the attempted, yankee fomented coup against Chavez, is inspiring us.

You seek to lead to lead the present pristine outrage of Irish women and men against Irish Ferries and all its works (and further abroad) into Ahern's cul-de sac, I seek otherwise, ok !.

by vngelis Wed Nov 30, 2005 09:50

Aren't those who support open borders partly responsible when companies outsource production or import cheap labour? Unless workers fight tooth and nail for workers control of hiring and firing, ie reintroduce the closed shop, bosses will only seek to maximise declining profits by importing cheap labour now the EU has expanded and seeks to expand to bulgaria and rumania after the last 15 countries joined the EU...

by Con Carroll - Class War Wed Nov 30, 2005 15:42

is there leaflets and posters about the protest which we can give out to people?
if there are where can we pick them up?

by BP Wed Nov 30, 2005 18:28

Translated into English, this means:

1. Let us direct the worker's huge anger and potential energies into safe channels - ie walking around town chanting half-hearted and largely meaningless slogans.

2. Let us frighten the mass of workers away from effective action with gutless lying, craven cowardice in the face of the enemy.

3. Let us meantime deal privily with their class enemies (our bosses, so-called 'Social Partners') and predictably sell out their interests to maintain our priveliged positions.

4. Let us tell them all what a huge "victory" we have achieved through this masterful strategy, and what cheap "reassurances" we have extracted from compulsive liars.

5. Let us repeat the 'strategy', which Harney has given us, until not a single union member remains on the books in Ireland - then retire to Spain.
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Check Pragmatist's language - (s)he reckons we must "welcome the day of protest, no matter how limited it may seem" - well, by the sounds of it, it's not going to disappoint in THAT department. In fact I'd hazard a prediction that it will not only seem limited, it is actually DESIGNED to BE limited.

Secondly, (s)he reckons we must "strive to get as many people on the streets as possible." but does not tell us why? What good does 'people on the street' do if they are not prepared to take the next logical step after being ignored?

Thirdly, "General Strike ... impractical ... current legislation ... only ... strike against your employer in a legitimate trade dispute."
This would be simply hilarious, if it was not meant seriously - but is is, see above sketch regarding how to chill and channel workers.

Fourthly, "Trade Unions would be open to being sued in multimillion law claims and face possible bankruptcy."
These unions are already bankrupt in terms of fighting for the class interests of workers - financial ruin will logically follow in the long term as workers vote with their feet.

Fifthly, "less talk and more walk, comrades." Notice how the word 'action' does not appear. QED.
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Brother Tommy above has very ably ripped Pragmatist a couple of new cloacal vents - I enjoyed that and thank him for the input of his both boots.

Having tired, jaded, lazy, compromised jellyfish like Pragmatist leading a union movement is the PRECISE REASON any struggle undertaken by it is doomed to defeat.

The morale of a fighting union base needs to be built up to sweep away Pragmatist-like union leaders, who are sold-out obstacles to social progress and workers rights in this country.

Pragmatist, your likes are no 'comrades' of mine. I will be at the rally to support the struggle of the Irish Ferries workers, but not under your depressing banner. Please retire ASAP!

Best Regards, BP

by reg Thu Dec 01, 2005 16:00

Sailors recruited by the Liepaja firm "Dobsona kugniecibas agentura" for "Irish Ferries" sailors are being recruited not from Latvia but other countries - and for even lesser wages.

"Irish Ferries" management has stated that it has to choose: either hire Latvians, who are willing to work for EUR 3.60 an hour or more than one-half less than the minimum wage in Ireland (EUR 7.65), or face even greater losses that could result in bankruptcy.

Sailor recruiting company "Baltic Shipmanagement Ltd." personnel manager Karlis Svilpis commented to LETA that the wages set by "Irish Ferries" are "Filipino wages" and do not meet the standards of the international seamen's union ITF.Svilpis commented that ferry crews require certain qualifications, for example, command of the English language. He said that sailors from Ukraine, Russia, the Philippines and Indonesia are willing to work for low wages.

Svilpis pointed out that his company had recently been asked to recruit 150 crew members for a cruise ship, but the company had to decline because it was difficult to find qualified personnel in Latvia.
http://www.leta2000.com/eng/news.asp?NewsID=200511291622120114194074DD5174C0
---
http://business.guardian.co.uk/story/0,16781,1655146,00.html
In the second case, Oksana Karamjana, a 25-year-old Latvian, claimed she was getting €34 (£23) for a 12-hour shift on an Irish Ferries vessel. "It was a terrible job," she says. "You felt so trapped. Most of the time I was not allowed on dry land. You worked, you slept, you worked, you slept."

FREE TRADE UNION CONFEDERATION OF LATVIA
http://www.lbas.lv/En/index.html

by Tommy Donnellan - Irish Ferries to Davy Jones's Locker Campaign. Sun Dec 04, 2005 02:29

Alright Eoin !, at last, some decent feedback from the hymn sheet of rage atop Caracas, if not Mount Horeb, alright brother, I hear you - wish to fuck, ICTU had a smigin of the spirit that powers you.

by (",) Sun Dec 04, 2005 12:41

To the comment above about the guy who can't go because his has school. One word:


WALKOUT!!!

by Paul Kinsella - CPSU Activist And An Post Worker (Strictly Personal Capacity!)! Mon Dec 05, 2005 02:35 paulkinsella53 at yahoo dot com 53 Lorcan Grove, Santry, Dublin 9, Eire 0851478100

Looks like desperate efforts are being made to sabotage Friday's Day Of Action (sell out!!!!)!!! Don't let the bas**rds grind us down!! Keep the faith!

by R. Isible Mon Dec 05, 2005 06:29

So here's the one that Paul means (thanks):

by Con Carroll - Class war Wed Dec 07, 2005 14:53

wake up please and face reality.
a general strike yeas it would send powerful message if every town and village people stopped work and came out in protset and solidarity.
we can all bitch and mutter about what needs to be done.
how many of us have gone out with leaflets to where people are been employed in low finance economy sectors, encouraging people to come and join us.
I am told that there will be a large presence of people from Lithuania joing us
how many of us have gone back to working class communitties with posters leaflets with a straight message of anti racism and solidarity.

by mar Thu Dec 08, 2005 03:02

just wondering if there is a dart / bus strike on friday too, will need to find alternative ways to get into town :)

by the ear Thu Dec 08, 2005 03:07

That 'commuter' services will be guaranteed. I also hear that these services will be especially guaranteed in the period immediately before the march, coincidentally the same time that workers 'commuting' to the march might be likely to need transport.