Belfast Airport workers hungerstrike

[dennisr]

Two of the shopstewards of the sacked Belfast airport workers are now in the second day of a hungerstrike at the Belfast headquarters of the Unite union. The workers came to prominence when their union repudiated their strike and they were sacked. News this eve was that one had been taken to hospital (not sure why).

Since then they've fought on, without the support of their union, winning legal decisions that the strike was lawful and a stunning Employment Tribunal ruling that sacking shop stewards or other union activists can amount to dismissal on the grounds of political belief (and thus attract compensation beyond the amount available for ordinary unfair dismissal). Their union has made them all kinds of promises over the last 6 years, which the workers say have not been fulfilled.

After 6 years they have been forced to take this action. The Union is putting out lies and misinformation about them. (you can read the link below for more info)
The hungerstrikers are calling on Woodley, Jimmy Kelly and the other Unite officials to meet their demands.

More information: http://www.indymedia.ie/article/87064

Background to the dispute:
http://www.socialistparty.net/pub/pages/socialist028sep07/13.html

Latest press release from the m in reply to union lies and press release:
"Airport workers reply to UNITE statement - A Fabrication from start to finish"
http://www.socialistpartyni.net/

 

[dennisr]

anyone reminded of the liverpool dockers and their 'wonderful leader' bill morris and his promises ?

 

[KeyboardJockey]

Makes you wonder whats in it for the union leadership who have failed to back their members?

If a union will not back its members then why should the members back the union?

 

[belboid]

anyone reminded of the liverpool dockers and their 'wonderful leader' bill morris and his promises ?

it was of course Sir Bill (or is it Lord Bill, I forget) who scabbed on their initial strike.

 

[nightbreed]

Simple solution. Unite do what they said they would do and pay the bill, end of story.

 

[dennisr]

Simple solution. Unite do what they said they would do and pay the bill, end of story.

Certainly wouldn't disagree with that.

Someone elsewhere pointed out that Jimmy Kelly is actually a leading member of the SWP. !!! - is this true???

added - he's getting attacked here on indymedia ireland:
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/87107

 

[dennisr]

This was posted elswhere:
"Just phoned the number given out for Gordon Mcneill, he's out of hospital but has kidney problems. Obviously exacerbated by the hunger strike. Sadly the phone cut out. got back to him after that. Gordon told me that Madan may well have to be taken to the hospital as he too is ill.

Can I urge others on here pass this stuff on onto any and every website/TU branch/news group you can. And if you can phone Gordon on the number above i'm sure he'd appreciate the support."

Every trade unionist please, push this issue - find out more from the sites linked to. This is urgent.

 

[dennisr]

post from 8.26 last night:

"Both Gordon McNeill and Madan Gupta have been rushed to Belfast City Hospital in a critical condition.

This is the second time today that Mr McNeill has been hospitalised. Quickly after returning to Transport House, Mr McNeill took ill and was joined by 72 year-old diabetic Madan Gupta back to Belfast City Hospital. Doctors earlier today warned that both McNeill and Gupta are likely to have suffered irreversible kidney damage as a result of their refusal to eat and drink. UNITE still refuse to meet with the workers who have been fighting for over 6 years for justice."

http://www.indymedia.ie/article/87102

 

[dennisr]

Latest report from Ireland:

"The hunger strike has ended in victory.

The union has apparently given the men a letter guaranteeing that UNITE would pay their outstanding legal costs and any costs arising from an appeal by the employer. The union also agreed to enter into negotiations about how much compensation they would be paying the sacked workers on top of the legal costs.

The three shop stewards are now recovering in hospital, after five days on hunger strike."

 

[dennisr]

They have won and thats the most important thing. I hope they can recover to full health and fitness.

BUT, you really have to ask yourselves about this bit below... (copy of someones post elsewhere):


Funny you should ask. Here is the SWP's press release. Remember that they offered zero support to the hunger strikers and didn't even attend their support rallies. Remember also that the head Unite official in Ireland is an SWP member. Now read these "even handed" weasel words.

Unite members hunger strike in Belfast Print E-mail
Written by Socialist Worker
Friday, 11 April 2008
The Socialist Workers Party believes that the Belfast airport workers did a great service for the Irish labour movement when they took their company to an industrial tribunal and won a case which set a precedent against sacking union representatives because they were political activists.

The case arose because an anti-union firm had tried to rid itself of organised labour and used the classic tactics of victimisation to achieve that.
ATGWU had let down these men when a union official went behind their backs and called off a strike against their company ICTS.
The SWP welcomes the fact that the present leadership of UNITE (the successors of ATGWU) has agreed to meet the full legal costs of the tribunal case that the airport activists undertook. As members dues are at stake, the union has every right to fully examine the figures presented by the legal profession. But nevertheless the principle of covering costs has been accepted.

We also understand that the union will also underwrite the legal costs of defending against an appeal mounted by the company.
Both of these actions are important contributions to correcting past mistakes.

The current dispute between the workers and their union concerns the issue of compensation for further campaign costs and hardship endured.
The SWP believes that a process of mediation should be set up between the union officials and the victimised workers to resolve this issue.
This should involve both formal and informal face to face discussions.

If necessary, someone drawn from the ranks of organised labour should also be involved to mediate between both sides and so cut out further legal costs.

We fully recognise the pain and suffering the airport workers have endured over these many long years.
We urge them to come off the hunger and thirst strike so as not to cause themselves any more physical harm.
We also urge the union leadership to move as quickly as possible to enter mediation on the outstanding issue in dispute

 

[nightbreed]

Regarding the swp. One phrase comes to mind

'johnny come lately'

I am glad this dispute has been settled amicably.