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Support the Dublin Port Workers

15/02/10

éirígí activist and Dublin City councillor Louise Minihan has said that the party will continue to actively support the MTL workers at Dublin Port as they announced renewed strike action today [Monday].

The Marine Terminals Ltd staff at the port in the capital endured a 111-day strike last year in protest against efforts to implement arbitrary compulsory redundancies by MTL management.

Following a ruling by the Labour Courts that voluntary redundancy be the first course of action and that the terms of this be enhanced, the striking workers agreed to end their picket at Dublin Port.

However, despite spending Christmas on strike pay and a number of meetings between SIPTU officials and MTL management, not one member of staff has been allowed back to work by the company.

The workers have now voted for renewed strike action, which will see pickets resume on Monday, February 22.

Minihan said: “The workers in MTL have shown an extraordinary amount of patience. Despite the stonewalling and acts of bad faith by management, the staff remained calm and gave the company every opportunity to abide by the decision of the arbitrators, a decision that could not be seen as a victory for the workers. This patience has now run out.

“However, MTL management still has a week to review their callous position and avoid a renewed about of conflict. They would be wise to take this course of action.

“éirígí fully backs the decision of the workers to resume their pickets at the Port and will be offering the same support that we gave during the 111-day strike last year and since.

“It is only through affirmative and determined action on the picket lines, in the streets and in working class communities that hard-won rights can be defended and further rights can be secured.”

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