Union urges support for Irish Ferries protest march

Moves by Irish Ferries to replace employees on its vessels with cheaper staff from overseas could be a glimpse of the future for workers across Europe, a union chief said today.

Jack O’Connor, president of the country’s largest trade union SIPTU, has urged people to support Thursday’s march to the Dail to protest against controversial plans to axe hundreds of jobs at Irish Ferries.

“Irish Ferries is providing us with a glimpse of the future labour market if neo-liberal zealots succeed in pushing through their Services Directive in Europe,” he said.

“The proposed directive will allow employers to transport workers from one end of the EU to the other and impose the ’going rate’ in the member state with the poorest conditions applicable. This represents a complete repudiation of the European social model in the name of greed.”

Mr O’Connor said if the Services Directive was adopted in its present form it would reverse all the work the EU has done to raise living standards for citizens.

“What is happening in Irish Ferries provides a glimpse of the neo-liberal nightmare towards which we are currently drifting. We have to ensure it remains just a glimpse,” he said.

“It is incumbent upon us to make people aware of the threat that is looming for them and their families if we do not achieve a fundamental change in our present social partnership model so that social objectives are at least given parity with economic growth.”

Management and workers at the successful ferry firm have been locked in a long-running dispute over the company’s plan to lay off around 550 seafaring staff on its Irish Sea routes and replace them with cheaper staff.

The union chief said people must mobilise as the market forces which are driving down pay are moving closer to everyone’s workplace.

“That is why we are urging as many people as possible, whether they are members of trade unions or not, to participate in the march next Thursday,” he said.

Other unions supporting the march include the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, IMPACT, ATGWU and the Irish Nurses Organisation.