Solidarity with the Debenhams workers The arrest without a court injunction of the Debenhams workers for the occupation of stores brings the crisis in workers rights to a new level. This marks a massive change of direction by the state where workers are now arrested for defending their rights even before an employer goes to court. This demonstrates which side the government is on. This is the state attacking its own citizens. The trade union movement must challenge this. Support strikes are banned under the 1990 industrial relations act, it is unlikely any Union will be willing or able to […]

The Department of Health, by refusing to make provision for compensatory rest for health managers who have worked 60 to 70 hour weeks over seven days in recent months, has confirmed it is not prepared to comply with the state legislation on working time. In a letter to members on 21st August, Fórsa’s head of health and welfare Éamonn Donnelly (pictured), said the department does not have the authority to ignore its obligations under the law. Éamonn’s comments follow the union’s claim for staff at the level of Grade VIII and above, who work in areas such as primary and […]

Trade Union Left Forum offer our sincere condolences to the family, fiancee, friends of the deceased, the Brazilian community and workmates of Thiago Cortes a young Deliveroo worker who has died following a hit and run incident on Monday night.  Tereza Dontas, Mr Cortes’s fiancée, kept a bed-side vigil as Thiago fought for his life before he finally succumbed to fatal injuries. The Brazilian community, Deliveroo workers and many ordinary citizens gathered at the Spire this evening to remember Thiago and express their anger at this outrage. A passing demonstration by striking Debenhams workers stopped and held a minutes silence […]

There was strong support for the Debenhams workers last night outside the Convention Centre. Clearly the government is feeling vulnerable after their golfing debacle: the Gardaí felt it necessary to erect two barricades to stop us getting too close … The Debenhams workers have been blockading stores for almost 150 days to stop KPMG’s hired goons making off with the stock. Every trade unionist worth their salt should be down on the picket lines as monitoring the depots 24/7 is no easy task. Their struggle is our struggle. ✊✊✊ An injury to one is an injury to all !

In light of the ongoing struggle by the workers in Debenhams, We publish the Duffy Cahill report from 2016 in full. Click on this link Expert Examination and Review of Laws on the Protection of Employee Interests when assets are separated from the operating entity (Duffy Cahill Report) 26th April 2016  |   Reports, Research and Analysis An expert examination of legal protections for workers with a particular focus on ways of ensuring limited liability and corporate restructuring are not used to avoid a company’s obligations to its employees. The examination was to look specifically at situations where assets of significant value are separated from […]

The well written Trade Union paper Shopfloor is not out. You can read it on this link.  

Estee Lauder workers in Dublin Airport to ballot for industrial action Friday 28 August 2020 Mandate members employed by Estee Lauder in Dublin Airport are to participate in a ballot for industrial action in an effort to prevent the implementation of 22 compulsory redundancies. The company employs 50 workers in the business and has refused to attend the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). Mandate say they wish to negotiate around the principle of voluntary rather than compulsory redundancy, the terms of the redundancy package, the selection criteria as well as the terms & conditions of those employees who remain in the […]

See this link for a fascinating interview with Jane Crowe a Trade Union Shop Steward from Mandate the Trade Union and Brian Forbes a Mandate official regarding the present dispute which has been going on at Debenhams since Easter 2020. For anyone that want to assist their fellow workers. There is a daily picket on at Parnell Street,Dublin. Why not go along and help out.

WFTU message on the fatal accident in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan 26 Aug 2020 ASIA, PAKISTAN   The World Federation of Trade Unions on behalf of its 105 million workers in 130 countries of the 5 continents expresses its sincere condolence to the relatives and colleagues of the three miners from Shangla district who lost their lives when an explosion occurred due to gas accumulation in a coalmine in Boya area of Orakzai district. Once again the working class of Pakistan mourns its children due to a constant crime of the bourgeoisie that sacrifices workers for the sake of profit. The […]

Date Released: 24 August 2020 SIPTU representatives have referred a dispute concerning redundancy payments a car parts manufacturer BorgWarner in Tralee, county Kerry, to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). SIPTU Organiser, Joe Kelly, said: “Discussions with management at BorgWarner have reached an impasse day with the company unwilling to agree a fair redundancy package for the 117 SIPTU members who face losing their jobs due to the closure of the plant. “Our members, their families and communities will suffer the consequences of these job losses long after the shutters have come down on this plant. Its closure was announced to […]