Unions demand ‘level playing field’ on wages

UNIONS will demand a crack-down today on rogue developers who are flouting agreed industry pay rates by paying foreign workers as little as €8 an hour.

The Cork Building Group of Unions, an umbrella group representing 20,000 electricians, plumbers, carpenters and plasters across Munster, said the pay abuse is keeping hundreds of Irish labourers out of work.

They have gathered evidence, including wage slips, which show the abuse is wide-spread, union secretary Billy Curtin said.

Mr Curtin, who is also secretary of the plasterers union, said he knows of 300 Irish plasterers who can’t get work because foreign workers are willing to work for almost half the agreed €16.87 Construction Industry Federation rate.

The unions will present Enterprise Minister Micheál Martin with their evidence in Cork today.

Mr Curtin will be joined by Martin Leahy and Pat McGrath of SIPTU, Dermot Enright of the carpenters union UCATT, Pat Guilfolye of the electrical union TEEU, and William Kyne of plumbers’ union AMICUS.

They will demand developers found flouting the agreed rates be hauled before the Labour Court and prosecuted if necessary.

“I know of one site where there are 300 Eastern European staff being paid €8 an hour,” Mr Curtin said.

They will also seek the introduction of a work permit system.

Mr Curtin claimed some developers are telling Irish labourers they are not hiring Irish staff because foreign workers will work for less.

“We will tell the Minister: ‘This is your own city and you’re the Minister for Employment. Can you tell all the Irish lads that they can’t get work’,” Mr Curtin said.

“We have no problem with foreign lads coming in to work here. But they are working at low prices.

“There has to be a level playing field.”