O’Flynn condemns sub-contractors over pay tactics

GREEDY sub-contractors are fuelling tensions by hiring cheap, foreign labour, an outspoken TD claimed yesterday.

Fianna Fáil’s Noel O’Flynn made his comments following a protest by tradesmen outside Cork’s City Hall on Monday night.

Up to 60 members of the masons’ union, BATU, and the plasterers’ union, OPATSI, mounted the protest to highlight wage, pension and sick pay scheme abuses by several sub-contractors working on public projects.

The unions claimed such abuses are widespread and that foreign workers are being hired at up to half the agreed hourly rates.

They also claimed that a ‘no Irish need apply’ situation existed.

“That’s a dreadful state of play in the Ireland of 2007,” Mr O’Flynn said.

The Cork North Central TD, who sparked a national row in 2002 after describing some asylum seekers as “spongers and freeloaders”, said his latest comments were not directed at foreign workers.

“I want to make it quite clear. I have no problem with EU workers, but there must be a level playing field,” he said. “What infuriates me is that the sub-contractors who don’t enforce agreed pay rates are Irish people.

“We have a high cost economy. Irish workers are supporting the economy and they can’t afford to work for anything less.

“The EU workers that are coming here were never meant to displace Irish workers. They were meant to augment our workforce and fill gaps.”

But he said some sub-contractors who are hiring foreign labour are fuelling anger and resentment among Irish tradesmen.

The CIF in Cork reminded its members recently that they must ensure that proper rates of pay are paid to all workers.

A new fair wage clause has also been included in all contracts for State-funded projects, which was introduced last month.

Mr O’Flynn said that should serve as a “bible” for all developers.