Labour Youth strongly opposes the reintroduction of work permits

by Dinjo Sun Mar 26, 2006 21:37

Let’s face one very simple fact folks that no matter how unethical we may find it, it is the balance in “Supply and Demand” for labour which alone will impact equally upon Irish and immigrant workers alike. Dismissing or simply deflecting this obvious fact behind anybody’s so-called “Race Card” will most certainly not alter its eventual outcome, and may even serve to accelerate its uptake.

At times of labour shortage, employers have little option but to compete against each other to attract and maintain their workforces. In a tight labour environment, salaries and conditions on offer will steadily improve to the benefit of Employees.
Conversely, at times when there is a plentiful or indeed over-supply of labour, surely the shoe is on the other foot, and it is the Employees who are likely to find themselves in competition with each other for jobs, and, so too will conditions on offer to them at best stand still, but most likely deteriorate.

Given the fact also that many of our immigrants seem to express very little longer term ambitions to live out the rest of their lives in this damp climate of ours, it would seem very unlikely that any Irish Workers Unions, could under the circumstances generate the means to militate against the so-called “Race to the Bottom” a situation whereby the basic National Minimum Wage becomes the norm or a de facto benchmark for all.

It is already clear that many Irish workers, especially in the building trades, are experiencing some negative effects. Quite a few have expressed an opinion that Employers seem more and more to be showing a preference for foreign labour, readily available at lower cost to themselves. It is inescapable too; that while an abundance of labour may be an essential ingredient to growing an economy, but it is equally an environment which serves to diminish expectations of employees and create downward pressures on earnings.

by Pat Rabbitte - Labour Party Tue Mar 14, 2006 17:38

Fair play to Labour Youth for opposing my policy stance yet again and exposing me for the right wing crazed fanatic I really am. Good man graham, keep up the good work. An remember Enda Kenny for Taoiseach, for a better Ireland!

by D_D Tue Mar 14, 2006 16:16

Entirely

by Responding Tue Mar 14, 2006 11:29

IBEC favour the work permit system as it allows exploitation. Frankly those that claim that opposing the work permit system is the same position as IBEC's are either deliberately lying or are absolute idiots. Of course there are those who fall into both these categories. It is usually the far right who try to claim that the lefts position and IBEC's, on immigration, are the same. It is untrue as is to be expected of their deranged nonsense.

by Rosa Tue Mar 14, 2006 09:58

Thanks for that Gearoid, that answers my question. Welll done and congratulations for taking on the leadership on this issue in a public manner. Personallly I think it is a huge waste of your commitment and talent trying to work within Labour but thats another days debate.

by Graham Ó Maonaigh - Labour Youth Tue Mar 14, 2006 03:17

Thanks for the positivity.
Its not on the site YET...
This release went out to the media in its entirity. Radio Na Gaeltheachta and 2fm have picked up on it so far...

by Tool Mon Mar 13, 2006 21:01

well of course, IBEC is currently the far lefts biggest source of funding.

by Gieger Mon Mar 13, 2006 20:11

Under no circumstances should there be a Work Permit system in Ireland for workers from other EU countries or future EU countries such as Bulgaria or Romania.

Did yaz borrow this line from IBEC?

by Rosa Mon Mar 13, 2006 19:23

This is an excellent statement and its good to see that on this, and a growing number of issues, Labour Yotuh is diverging from the increasingly right-wing tendency of the Rabbitte/McManus leadership. I can understand the tactical reasons for not naming Rabbitte in the statement, rather than alluding to his obnoxious statement but maybe LY people can say why the LY statement is not up on their own website.

If its just logistics fine, but if a decision has been made just to issue it on indymedia, that smacks of opportunism and posing as radicals in one forum while avoiding offence to Rabbitte etc. within the party. BTW I have a lot of time for LY activists and I hope many of them will play a positive role in building a new broad party of the left once Rabbitte and co. has completely exposed the futility of working within the Labour Party.