Irish Ferries

by Updater Tue Dec 13, 2005 17:32

The Minister for Trade, Enterprise and Employment, Micheál Martin, has said that the situation at Irish Ferries is now 'quite bleak'. He said he wanted to pay tribute to the Labour Relations Commission for the outstanding work it has been doing since last week to see if it could bridge the gap between both sides. Mr Martin said he thought it was very important that a solution be arrived at in the context of the labour relations machinery of the State. Minister Martin said he was satisfied that there was engagement on all sides in looking for a solution to the issue. He said the feedback he received prior to last weekend was that there was significant engagement by the company in the talks process, but he said that today he would love to see the work of the LRC bearing fruit.

by Listener Tue Dec 13, 2005 16:51

RTE Radio 1 news gave a SUI member Terry O'Connor, Irish Ferries worker and Head Barman on Ulysses, free rein to rant about how SIPTU were going to ruin their lives. He said the company was wonderful in agreeing to give the new workers the minimum wage (even though there's no proof of that) and that it was only a personal vendetta by the SIPTU leadership that was stopping a deal being done. As far as he was concerned reflagging was of no concern to him.
You've got to hand it to them. The parasite bosses have never lost that knack of dividing and conquering.

by Updater Tue Dec 13, 2005 13:56

The company has given staff until tonight to resume sailing its vessels or face a 25% cut in their redundancy package. That could mean the loss of up to €50,000 for some workers with long service. One source said that, in light of this latest deadline, there is now a sharp sense of reality about the seriousness of the dispute. It is understood that LRC officers are teasing out around nine major issues in separate meetings between management and unions to try to find some common ground that could lead to a settlement. Among the key sticking points are the re-flagging of Irish Ferries vessels abroad, new staffing ratios which would reduce time off and deductions from the minimum wage for accommodation and other expenses for replacement crews from Eastern Europe. No great optimism over reaching a resolution was expressed earlier by management or by the unions.

by Updater Tue Dec 13, 2005 12:06

In a notice to staff yesterday, the company's chief executive, Eamonn Rothwell, said the "goodwill" element of the package would be withdrawn unless all three Irish Sea ships were sailing by tonight. He said management had been forced to adopt this stance because of the financial implications of the dispute. In a statement to the Stock Exchange yesterday, Irish Continental Group, which owns Irish Ferries, said the dispute had cost it €5.5 million to date. Mr Rothwell claimed it was clear that Siptu was not interested in negotiating a settlement, "despite the company being prepared to consider conceding, among other things, the national minimum wage for future contract crews". It was "very apparent", he said, that Siptu's main concern was pay for new staff and its desire for the "exclusive right" to represent them, rather than the right of existing staff to accept redundancy.

Siptu denied the claims, saying Irish Ferries had not made "a single offer" in talks last week at the LRC and had not indicated any willingness to pay the minimum wage. It also denied the union had sought exclusive negotiating rights for staff who would be replacing the existing crews. The union said it had not sought to compromise the right of any employee to avail of the redundancy offer, and claimed it was the company that "clearly has no interest in discussions". Mr Smyth said the union had offered savings that matched the €15 million a year sought by the company in its outsourcing plan.

Last night the Seamen's Union of Ireland (SUI) repeated its call for management and Siptu to move towards a resolution of the dispute. SUI general secretary Robert Carrick said he was consulting members about the latest development. The vast majority of SUI members had applied for redundancy, but Mr Carrick said many did so only because "a gun was put to their head". The maximum amount due to be received by an SUI member was €220,000, he said, although most would receive far smaller amounts.

by Updater Mon Dec 12, 2005 17:48

Irish Ferries has threatened to slash the redundancy package for staff if service does not resume on its three vessels tomorrow night.
The company's services on its UK routes have been paralysed for 18 days in a dispute over outsourcing of workers.
The original redundancy package on offer to staff involved four weeks pay per year of service, plus two weeks per year statutory redundancy.
An additional two weeks was to be paid for cooperation with the changeover to eastern European crewing.
However, in a memo to seafaring staff, Irish Ferries Chief Executive Eamonn Rothwell warns that if the Ulysses, the Isle of Inishmore and the Jonathan Swift do no not resume sailings tomorrow night, the cooperation payment would be withdrawn.
This would reduce redundancy packages by a quarter.
In addition, the Johnathan Swift schedule will be reduced to a summer only service with immediate layoffs being affected.
Earlier today, Irish Ferries issued a profit warning to the Stock Exchange, revealing that the dispute has already cost it €5.5 million.
The company added that the cost could soar to €11 million by the end of the year if the row is not resolved.
The Labour Relations Commission has had further contact with both sides today in a bid to get talks on a settlement back on track.

by eeekkkkkk Fri Dec 09, 2005 14:04

hope some twisted leftie is selecting someone for that slot each week

they are so extreme that it has been shocking -

the boi guy was first in series

by pat c Fri Dec 09, 2005 14:02

isme is the armed wing of the PDs. the most exploitative small employers you will find in this island. they opposed the minimum wage and they oppose the extension of maternity leave. they want to return workers to 1913 conditions.

these uriah heeps will not prevail, the unions will have the last laugh today.

by Updater Fri Dec 09, 2005 13:59

The Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association has accused SIPTU of manipulating the trade union movement for its own purposes in relation to the Irish Ferries dispute.
The business group made the accusation today as tens of thousands of trade unionists prepare to hold protests throughout the country over the erosion of employment standards.
However, ISME, which is opposed to the demonstrations, claimed it was "a blatant and extortionate attempt to further the aims of SIPTU".
Spokesman Mark Fielding claimed the union was trying to strengthen itself ahead of negotiations on a new social partnership deal.
"The unions themselves are undermining the industrial relations process in this country, which they say they hold so dear, but in fact they're giving two fingers to," he said.

by Curious Fri Dec 09, 2005 11:50

How come the gap between rich and poor in this country is continuing to rise. I'd like to know the difference in wages between the likes of Rothwell and his Eastern European counterpart. You never see O'Sullivan and his ilk highlight these comparators.

by being helpful Fri Dec 09, 2005 11:41

People can laught at IBEC - they won't be the people losing their jobs as many now are and more to come...and this protest march will do little for them....

by pat c Fri Dec 09, 2005 11:21

IBEC are getting worried. they can see that ICTU has lost control and these protests are gathering their own momentum. "unofficial" industrial action has now being taking place for 3 weeks and ICTU & SIPTU dare not criticise it.

be careful though, the ICTU & SIPTU Misleadership snatched defeat from the jaws of victory during the Ryanair strike.

by Updater Fri Dec 09, 2005 11:17

March organisers are not living in the real world
Unions are not under threat from employers but foreign competition, writes Turlough O'Sullivan

Today will see a most extraordinary event. The winners of an international competition are marching on the streets - not to celebrate, but to protest.
In pay terms, Irish workers have sprinted far faster than their European neighbours. Over the past 10 turing wages have risen by almost 70 per cent while, in the rest of the EU, wages have risen by just 28 per cent.
We have combined this with a regime of low income tax. Wednesday's Budget continued to boost living standards with its substantial increases in income tax bands and tax credits. It is against this background that the trade unions of Ireland are calling a work-stoppage protesting about "a race to the bottom". It does not stand up.
Yes, the protest is also against the background of one particularly difficult industrial dispute in Irish Ferries. Whatever one's views on that dispute, it is very difficult to understand how trade unions can justify calling for a national work stoppage when discussions are under way at the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) on a formula developed by the Irish Business and Employers Confederation (Ibec), the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (Ictu) and the Government.
The Government and Ibec have already agreed to engage in the next partnership talks with Ictu on the issues raised by the dispute in Irish Ferries. On this basis, the reasons for the protest should have dissolved last Sunday evening.
Following exhaustive discussion and consideration between employers and unions at the National Implementation Body, there is already an agreed framework for getting a solution to the Irish Ferries dispute. These discussions also broke the log-jam that had prevented discussions on a national agreement to follow the present three-year partnership arrangement "Sustaining Progress", which is due to expire shortly.
The trade unions have not properly explained why they are persisting with this damaging work-stoppage or why they think this is more constructive than building on last weekend's agreement.
Our young people live in a very different world to that of their parents and grandparents. They are not caught in the time warp that puts employers on one side and employees on another. They know that everyone survives and prospers by working together to sell goods and services to customers who want good value.
They live and thrive on a world stage. They know that no one owes them a living. They know that actions have consequences.
Unlike them, those organising this march have lost sight of the real world. They are right that their members are under threat but this threat is not from the vast majority of decent employers, the Government or anyone else at home. They are under threat from those who are producing similar goods and services in other countries and selling them at a cheaper price. It is time to wake up. We are losing our competitive edge. That is what the social partners should be united in addressing.
Wages are rising faster here than anywhere else. In 2004, the annual average employee in Ireland cost €38,100 per year. This is total remuneration paid by the employer and includes taxes and social security contributions. The comparable amounts in other countries are €33,200 in Germany, €28,400 in Spain, €11,300 in Hungary and €7,700 in Poland. These are all EU members and, as we know, there are even lower wages further east.
Suggestions that Ireland's current economic model is delivering a better return to capital than to labour are incorrect. Indeed, the National Income and Expenditure data for 2004, released just yesterday by the CSO, shows that business and other profits increased by just 2.6 per cent last year while employee remuneration grew by 8.9 per cent. This demonstrates that the opening of the Irish labour market to residents of the new member states in 2004 has not benefited business profits over employee wages.
It is not just pay that is threatening our jobs. Non-pay costs such as waste collection, insurance, professional services, rents, local authority charges, energy and transportation are rising much faster than general inflation. In the two years to 2004, inflation went up by 5.9 per cent but these costs to business rose by 19.1 per cent.
This should be setting alarm bells ringing. Because of international competition, Irish industries cannot pass these extra costs on to customers. If they did, they would lose business. Instead, they have been forced to reduce their prices to meet competition. Factory gate prices have fallen by just under 12 per cent in the five years to date.
Manufacturing companies cannot survive with their costs rising and their sales income falling. No household could survive if its costs rise three times faster than the rate of inflation while its income falls. Business is no different.
This squeeze is taking its toll on jobs. Manufacturing industry is the heart of the Celtic Tiger and it is under intolerable strain. Some 33,400 manufacturing jobs have been lost over the past four years. Meanwhile, the public sector has recruited an extra 73,800. In quarter three of 2001, manufacturing industry employed 249,900 and the public sector (public service, health and education) employed 335,500. In quarter two of 2005, manufacturing industry employed 216,500 and the public sector employed 409,300.
The Irish economy is losing muscle and is gaining fat.
Policymakers, those in protected jobs, and those disrupting their working lives today should take a long, cold look at the big, bad world out there.
This is not the time to disrupt business and to tell the international community that we are incapable of solving our problems through dialogue. Instead, we must show our determination to get back into the race and compete successfully.

Turlough O'Sullivan is director general of the business and employers organisation, Ibec

by FG Fri Dec 09, 2005 01:17

The strike action was called off "as a gesture of goodwill towards management".

Puke.

The stake was put away as a gesture of goodwill to Dracula.

by The Undersigned Thu Dec 08, 2005 19:59

Independent TDs' Press Release
8th December 2005

Independent TDs' Press Conference on Irish Ferries:

- Call for massive turnout of workers for protest marches on Friday

- Call for no concession to policy of exploitation of migrant workers

We have held this press conference today in the Earl of Kildare Hotel to call for a massive turnout of workers tomorrow, Friday December 9th, for the national Trade Union Day of Action.

It is critical that the employers in this State together with the Government are left in no doubt that abuse of migrant workers and replacement of workers on decent wages with cheap labour will not be tolerated.

Irish Ferries is attempting to create a disastrous precedent. If successful, and other employers were allowed to follow suit, workers in this State would be the losers. Furthermore the abuse of migrant workers to undercut established wages and conditions could lay the basis for ill feeling and tension between workers of different ethnic backgrounds.

It was the Independent T.D.s section of the Dail Technical Group who sponsored the first major debate in Dail Eireann on the scandalous plans by Irish Ferries to sack 543 workers on trade union rates of pay and conditions. The Government voted it down. We call on the Government to introduce emergency legislation to prevent Irish Ferries "slave labour" strategy. We further call for Europe wide action to ensure that all workers employed on ships in European waters are on trade union rates of pay and working conditions.

Tony Gregory T.D. (Whip)
Paddy McHugh T.D. (Deputy Whip)
James Breen T.D.
Paudge Connolly T.D.
Jerry Cowley T.D.
Marian Harkin T.D. & M.E.P.
Seamus Healy T.D.
Finian McGrath T.D.
Catherine Murphy T.D
Joe Higgins T.D. (Socialist Party)

by Updater Thu Dec 08, 2005 18:11

Officials from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions met with gardaí today to finalise plans for a National Day of Protest in support of staff at Irish Ferries.
Members of more than 50 unions will take part in the demonstration with tens of thousands of people expected to march through Dublin.
A Congress spokesman said there had been huge support for the protest with the public expected to come out and support trade unions.
“There has been huge support and we expect the public will support the unions,” he said.
The main Dublin protest will be supported by demonstrations in Rosslare, Cork, Waterford, Limerick, Galway, Sligo, Athlone and Tralee.
Congress officials have been liaising with officers from the Garda Traffic Division and have been asked to end the demonstration outside Government Buildings on Merrion Street, rather than the narrower Kildare Street in order to accommodate the expected massive crowds.
The protest will be addressed by David Begg, general secretary of Congress, SIPTU general president Jack O’Connor and SIPTU negotiator Patricia King.
The Congress spokesman said that while they welcomed the support of political parties, no politicians would be allowed on the platform.
Speculation has mounted that between 30,000 and 50,000 protesters will join the march. It will start at Parnell Square at 1.30pm, crossing O’Connell Bridge to the front of Leinster House before making its way along St Stephen’s Green and down the front of Government Buildings to Merrion Square.
All 57 unions affiliated to Congress support the day of action, while civil and public servants, transport workers and the Dublin Congress have also given their backing.

by Updater Thu Dec 08, 2005 11:56

Siptu trade union sources said there had been "limited progress" on some issues, and while the union was "hopeful" of a settlement, talks could continue today if the parties could not broker a settlement. Strike action, planned to come into affect by midnight last night, was suspended yesterday. One source said it would make "very little practical difference" as workers were still on board the company's vessels. The strike action was called off as a "gesture of goodwill" to management.

by FG Wed Dec 07, 2005 20:33

Yesterday the executive of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions endorsed the statement of the National Implementation Body with the support of SIPTU.

A resolution based on the National Minumum Wage of €7.65, rather than €3.50, an hour for relacement seafarers is on the way.

Go back now and read everything said about the need to win this at all costs, about this being the test of what kind of a society we'll have, about 'do or die' time for the trade unions. The trade union bureaucracy has already, days before Friday, accepted the turfing out of union members and unfortunate people working for half their wages in their place. Ferries sailing without unions as the redcircling runs down.

It happened in the Independent newspaper. It could happen anywhere now. The union leaders have given the green light to the race to the bottom.

Take your workplace. Management offer big lumps with a deadline. Many or most accept. New workers are brought in on half the wages (the National Minimum Wage). The union says this is a disgrace, we'll strike, we'll blockade, we'll call the entire country out.
Management, the members, the media, trade union members all over the country say, but you had all this, you had December 9th, and YOU ACCEPTED IT IN IRISH FERRIES!

Defeat. Time for those with a head on their shoulders to regroup.

by Curious Wed Dec 07, 2005 17:16

From what I can make out from the very non-transparent talks is that SIPTU have signed up to the NIB recommendations but are waiting for Irish Ferries to give them assurances about the reflagging which they have yet to do.
But if I'm right then SIPTU have already agreed to placing all the workforce on the minimum wage. All in the name of progress and they think this isn't another step in the race to the bottom.

by Updater Wed Dec 07, 2005 16:46

A SIPTU negotiator said the union was hopeful but not optimistic of reaching agreement by today's deadline.
However, he said the union would be offering significant savings to the company and could see no reason why agreement could not be reached.

by O Wed Dec 07, 2005 13:34

Press Notice
Independent T.D.s Press Conference
Tomorrow, Thursday December 8th
Earl of Kildare Hotel, Kildare St.
11.45 am
To Urge Support For Trade Union Day of Action and Related Issues

Further Information:
Tony Gregory T.D. (Whip) Telephone: (01) 618 3488

Sponsored By:
Tony Gregory T.D.
Paddy McHugh T.D.
James Breen T.D.
Paudge Connolly T.D.
Jerry Cowley T.D.
Marian Harkin T.D. & M.E.P.
Seamus Healy T.D.
Finian McGrath T.D.
Catherine Murphy T.D.
Joe Higgins T.D. (Socialist Party)

by pat c Wed Dec 07, 2005 12:14

i hope the bishops attend in their full robes behind a papal banner. that might make them workers in uniform.

by Updater Wed Dec 07, 2005 12:11

The Irish Bishops Conference has lent its support to Friday's National Day of Protest, saying that the Irish Ferries dispute "draws attention" to how migrant workers were treated in Ireland. It called for a resolution to the dispute that respected the "rights of all involved".
In a statement, the Irish Commission for Justice and Social Affairs said that while labour costs were "a legitimate concern", Irish Ferries was a profitable company and the desire to maximise returns should not be made at the expense of workers or in a manner which would undermine society's acceptance of "appropriate standards of employment and rates of pay".
The ICJSA said the dispute had the potential to undermine the social partnership, and that society should ensure that immigrants were not exploited but paid a "just wage".
"Social partnership promotes an ideal of equity or fairness, and it is at least arguable that this model of social partnership has in recent years gone some way towards countering inequities in Irish society," the statement read.
"In this light, the ICJSA offers its support for the day of protest on December 9 that is being organised by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions."

by Updater Wed Dec 07, 2005 11:53

British trade unionists are due to mount a protest in the Welsh port of Holyhead today to show solidarity with workers at Irish Ferries.
The demonstration has the backing of the British Trades Union Congress and is designed to highlight opposition to "job displacement", the erosion of employment standards and the exploitation of workers.

by zapawarrior - Workers Power (Ireland) Wed Dec 07, 2005 10:25 zapawarrior at rebelnation dot com

Workers Power Ireland have published this leaflet - http://www.rebelnation.com/wp/files/irishferries.pdf - on the Irish Ferries Struggle.

See you all on Friday!

by Indymedia Ireland Editorial Group - Indymedia Ireland Tue Dec 06, 2005 20:47

See link below:

by Rte'er Mon Dec 05, 2005 23:59

Celtic toiger-Yea..its a funny kind o' cat
Why am I skinny,when everyone is fat?

Lots of us are skinny-but the fat get fatter.
Ireland today may have a higher income per capita,but if Tony O'Reilly and I were the sole two inhabitants of Ireland,my income would thus be somewhere in the millions.

Not everyone has benefited form neoliberalism.
And even those who have dont seem any happier than 10 years ago.

by Anarchist Mon Dec 05, 2005 20:22

Hear Hear
The NIB will be used as a government vehicle to calm the dispute and let the heat and media feeding frenzy die off with a view to putting together some semblance of justice for the workers which in its truth will amount to nothing more than the shoddy redundancy package originally offered.

t is the trade unions duty and responsibility to proceed with the course they have set and to intensify the call for solidarity and industrial action on a broad and unified scale.

Big test for SIPTU and the other large Unions,so often of late accused of being no more than Governmental partners rather than worker's representatives.

by Des Derwin Mon Dec 05, 2005 18:42

Any agreement by the trade unions to accept replacement of the current workforce at Irish Ferries, whether by displacement or natural wastage, with workers that would be paid the National Minimum Wage of a mere 7.65 Euro an hour would be a watershed defeat for the trade union movement. It would be a settlement that the most hawkish employer would delight in and would accelerate the 'race to the bottom' in employment conditions.

Thousands of workers are ready to come out on Friday next to support the Irish Ferries workers. The unions should stand firm and hold their nerve.