People power against Irish Ferries

IT is crucial to every trade union member that the Irish Ferries dispute is won and we should not put our faith in Government-sponsored compromises.

In 1999, the Government refused to support a draft EU directive on seafarers’ rights that would have prevented Irish Ferries re-flagging.

They cut the tax rate on the company by introducing a temporary tonnage tax and have even allowed them not to pay social insurance.