People power against Irish Ferries
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.
Bertie Ahern is just a frontman for big business as is shown by his claim to be ‘powerless’ when it comes to workers’ issues.
Only people power can win this struggle. The Government must bring in emergency legislation to force Irish Ferries to accept workers’ rights.
The demonstrations last Friday showed there are many thousands of people who are prepared to take action. We need to step up this action with a general strike. Outsourcing of jobs, which is at the core of this dispute, is being used increasingly by employers through the social partnership agreements.
The Celtic Tiger is dying and employers want to use recruitment agencies so they can keep their employees silent. In the longer term the only way political change will come about is by staying out of coalitions with right-wing parties like Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.
We need to build a new left alliance to promote extra-parliamentary politics that relies on mobilisation from below to bring change.
The Socialist Workers Party is campaigning to bring about such an alliance.
Kieran McNulty
Branch Secretary
Socialist Workers Party
Tralee
Co Kerry
