Union thanks marchers for support of ferry workers

THE Waterford Council of Trade Unions has thanked the estimated 15,000 workers who attended the march in support of the Irish Ferries workers in the city last Friday.

Many workers sacrificed several hours wages to show their solidarity with the workers in Irish Ferries who are facing forced redundancy to make way for cheap, non-union labour, said president of Waterford Council of Trade Unions Tom Creedon.

“The speakers referred to the fact that the Irish Ferry workers were standing up for every worker in the country and that this was a battle to protect the wages and conditions of workers in every sector.

“We will continue and possibly step up the campaign if Irish Ferries continues to victimise its employees and the Government refuses to intervene on behalf of the workers,” Mr Creedon said.

Union vice president Dick Roche said it could only be the beginning of something sinister in Ireland.

“Irish Ferries have resorted to tactics akin to the 1913 Dublin lock-out. If Irish Ferries are allowed to get away with this it will be a green light for employers to sack their workers in favour of cheaper, non-union labour,” he said.