Support Dublin Port Workers

dublin | worker & community struggles and protests | feature

Sunday August 09, 2009 13:46

by pat c

A Section of the Striking Workers

• Do you remember when Dublin Port was a key local employer, and the Docklands were the location of thriving industries?

• Do you support workers rights, hard fought for and won for us by previous generations?

These are now under threat at Marine Terminal in Dublin Port. The owners, the UK based Peel Group, have targeted Dublin workers, some of whom live locally in Dockland communities.

They have implemented forced redundancies, with no consultation, and with no fair or transparent process. They have introduced new “take it or leave it” contracts, reducing wages and severely worsening working conditions.

These contracts, if signed, would see Dublin workers forced to go work in UK ports at the company's discretion.

The company have repeatedly failed to engage with the State Institutions, such as the Labour Relations Court and Labour Court. Faced with bully boy tactics the workers were left with no alternative but to commence Official strike action.

The company has taken a High Court injunction which prevents effective picketing by the striking workers. While the workers are locked outside their place of employment, British scabs have been imported to take their place. At this time of hardship, Irish based workers are not getting paid, while the British scabs tax money is contributing to the British economy.

Peel Group are the second largest group of Ports in the UK. They are part of a larger commercial enterprise involved in property development and land speculation, having assets valued at over £4.5 billion. Ironically, they are only a tenant of Dublin Port, an Irish State company. They are behaving in this appalling manner on property owned by the Irish tax payer.

This company has a clear anti-worker agenda. They are aiming for low pay, low standards, and little or no job security. If they are allowed to succeed other companies will adopt their tactics, in the rest of Dublin Port and eventually further afield.

This is an important battle, for all workers and our community.

Support the Strikers!

For more information on supporting the workers, local contact joemooney@dublin.ie