Ballybrack Three Campaign Condemns Heavy Garda Presence at Picket-line

dublin | rights, freedoms and repression | press release Wednesday February 22, 2006 11:20 by Dun Laoghaire People Before Profit - Dun Laoghaire People Before Profit

Ballybrack Three Campaign condemns heavy use of Gardai to protect wealthy developer

Supporters of the Ballybrack Three and fellow building workers have this morning condemned Collen Construction for its reliance on large numbers of Gardai to keep its Foster Avenue, UCD site open.
The site, which is being picketed by dozens of building workers and supporters of the Ballybrack Three's campaign for Trade Union Rights, has been effectively shut down for the last five working days by the protest. But every morning picketers face up to fifty members of an Garda Siochana, whom Collen are using to try and break the protest.
Most workers on the site are not turning up for work or are respecting the picket. Only a small number have chosen to pass the picket.
Richard Boyd Barrett of Dun Laoghaoire People Before Profit Alliance, spokesperson for the Ballybrack Three said this morning that ' This heavy and intimidatory Garda presence can only escalate this dispute. Though many of the Gardai have expressed sympathy with our protest, others are being extremely heavy handed. There was one arrest on the picket line yesterday of a member of UCD student's union, who are supporting our picket, and others, particularly young students are being roughly treated by some of the Gardai. We want the Guards to respect our right to peaceful protest. We want to see no charges brought against peaceful protesters.
“Three men are in jail for no other reason than they wanted the right to work as trade unionists. Collen are obliged to employ trade unionists under a legally binding employment agreement in the construction industry. A fourth Daniel O Connell, a carpenter from Ballybrack, is appearing in the High Court tomorrow and may also be imprisoned for supporting the Ballybrack Three”
“ Its a disgrace that the resources of the state, and taxpayers money, can be used so swiftly and unquestioningly in support of a wealthy developer while working people who stand up for a fair wage and decent working conditions can be thrown behind bars without a second thought for the justice of their cause.”
“There cannot be one law for the rich and another for workers. The Gardai and the courts would be far more usefully employed investigating Collen's breaches of labour law instead of harassing peaceful protesters”
Protests will continue from 7AM tomorrow morning at Collen sites at Foster's Avenue UCD and the Hugh Lane Gallery, Parnell Square.

Please send messages of support for Billy, Keith and Andrew to ballybrack3@hotmail.com