nightbreed
Im Bored
Are there any updates on the situation?
The UNITE executive met over the last few days. Did they make a decision on this issue ?
The UNITE executive met over the last few days. Did they make a decision on this issue ?
Transport House Hunger and Thirst strike - Gordon McNeill close to losing consciousne
- Thread starter dennisr
- Start date
dennisr
the acceptable face
I think this bit is worth repeating, there is a danger we get lost in this bureaucrat initiated smokescreen of 'costs' (costs which would be more than compensated for if the case goes ahead and, as is likely, won)
"high paid senior officials, when confronted with a demand for redress from low paid workers whose lives have been turned upside down by the treachery of union officials, suddenly become the number one guardians of “the members money”? If they are really so concerned with costs the first thing they could do is get rid of the legal teams on all sides and negotiate a deal. Rather than do this they keep repeating the mantra – “let the legal teams sort it out”. That shows how far they are removed from the reality of the position of extreme hardship the shop stewards find themselves in. The shop stewards have no money to keep their solicitor on board. Every delay and prevarication on the part of the union – and there have been too many to count - costs them more solicitors time and that costs them money they do not have."
"high paid senior officials, when confronted with a demand for redress from low paid workers whose lives have been turned upside down by the treachery of union officials, suddenly become the number one guardians of “the members money”? If they are really so concerned with costs the first thing they could do is get rid of the legal teams on all sides and negotiate a deal. Rather than do this they keep repeating the mantra – “let the legal teams sort it out”. That shows how far they are removed from the reality of the position of extreme hardship the shop stewards find themselves in. The shop stewards have no money to keep their solicitor on board. Every delay and prevarication on the part of the union – and there have been too many to count - costs them more solicitors time and that costs them money they do not have."
dennisr
the acceptable face
Not that I know of - I'm waiting for folk to get back to me when they get to work this morning
nightbreed
Im Bored
I just found this on the Workersnews/TGWU Broad Left mailing elist from Kevin Parslow, an SP member from London;
"The demands of the Belfast airport workers boil down to this. A previous official collaborated with management at ICTS to end their pay strike in 2002. Many of the workers were sacked and although some of them were reinstated the stewards and others were not. To go to ET, the workers had to fund their own case. Last year, they won a landmark ET judgement in Belfast on discrimination on trade union and political grounds. The tribunal also partly blamed the union leadership for their sacking.
The workers made an offer to the union to come on board and emphasise this victory. While it is true that that the union has paid £106,000 out of the £206,000 legal costs so far, the non-payment of the other £100,000 is causing problems because:
1/ The payment of that £100,000 will unfreeze £40,000 of the workers' own money, raised through loans and remortgaging.
2/ Without the payment of the outstanding money, the solicitor will take on no more work for them. The appeal by ICTS was originally scheduled for April, now June 24. The workers' barristers have withdrawn from the case. ICTS, a bad employer by any judgement, will win by default if this is not sorted out and then we will all suffer, as a union and as a class.
If the outstanding moneys were paid by the union, that would unblock the logjam and probably stop the hunger strikes. The funding of the appeal and any hardship payments to the workers could then be discussed. The £1 million claim was made by a solicitor and I don't think that should be used as an obstacle to an agreement.
Gordon McNeill has been taken down this afternoon by the fire brigade and taken to hospital, but is threatening to resume his hunger strike. He has already had a stroke and heart problems in the past period. Chris Bowyer joined the hunger strike since last night. These and Madan Gupta, the third T&G steward, who is 72, face eviction, ill health and have made other personal sacrifices. If the worst comes to the worst, the T&G will not recover from this for some time. That's why it is important for us all to use our good offices to get an agreement and actually support these workers against their former employer.
Kevin Parslow
Sorry Dennis I should have checked this first. It seems that from this the solicitors are the problem.
You are right. The Union should go straight to the members and make an offer.
Fucking solicitors!!
"The demands of the Belfast airport workers boil down to this. A previous official collaborated with management at ICTS to end their pay strike in 2002. Many of the workers were sacked and although some of them were reinstated the stewards and others were not. To go to ET, the workers had to fund their own case. Last year, they won a landmark ET judgement in Belfast on discrimination on trade union and political grounds. The tribunal also partly blamed the union leadership for their sacking.
The workers made an offer to the union to come on board and emphasise this victory. While it is true that that the union has paid £106,000 out of the £206,000 legal costs so far, the non-payment of the other £100,000 is causing problems because:
1/ The payment of that £100,000 will unfreeze £40,000 of the workers' own money, raised through loans and remortgaging.
2/ Without the payment of the outstanding money, the solicitor will take on no more work for them. The appeal by ICTS was originally scheduled for April, now June 24. The workers' barristers have withdrawn from the case. ICTS, a bad employer by any judgement, will win by default if this is not sorted out and then we will all suffer, as a union and as a class.
If the outstanding moneys were paid by the union, that would unblock the logjam and probably stop the hunger strikes. The funding of the appeal and any hardship payments to the workers could then be discussed. The £1 million claim was made by a solicitor and I don't think that should be used as an obstacle to an agreement.
Gordon McNeill has been taken down this afternoon by the fire brigade and taken to hospital, but is threatening to resume his hunger strike. He has already had a stroke and heart problems in the past period. Chris Bowyer joined the hunger strike since last night. These and Madan Gupta, the third T&G steward, who is 72, face eviction, ill health and have made other personal sacrifices. If the worst comes to the worst, the T&G will not recover from this for some time. That's why it is important for us all to use our good offices to get an agreement and actually support these workers against their former employer.
Kevin Parslow
Sorry Dennis I should have checked this first. It seems that from this the solicitors are the problem.
You are right. The Union should go straight to the members and make an offer.
Fucking solicitors!!
dennisr
the acceptable face
Cheers for that - yep, KPs info sounds like a more accurate summary of the situation now than i've found online.
Seems this solicitor's claim is being used by the unite officials to try and let themselves off the hook - the strikers are stuck in the middle
newbie
undisambiguated
what's the attitude of the workers and branch these guys used to represent? And other branches & activists in and around Belfast who, presumably, have been following this throughout the last few years?
Surely the financial issue can be (or could already have been) resolved by solidarity donations from other local union branches?
Surely the financial issue can be (or could already have been) resolved by solidarity donations from other local union branches?
dennisr
the acceptable face
Airport workers suspend hunger strike to await offer - Legal bills understood to be paid - Unite union promise to make compensation offer
Press Release by sacked Belfast airport workers - Friday 23rd May
Decision whether to recommence the hunger strike under review
The sacked airport shop stewards, Gordon McNeill and Chris Bowyer, who have been
on hunger strike on the balcony outside Transport House [Unite union offices, Belfast] suspended their action at 9 am this morning.
The men have come off the Transport House balcony. Gordon McNeill, who went five days without food and water, and a further three days without food, was suffering from chest pains and had to be assisted off. Chris Bowyer has been suffering bowel problems. Both men have now gone for urgent medical assistance.
The hunger strikers had made clear earlier in the week that they would temporarily suspend the hunger strike if the union made good its promise to pay outstanding legal bills and to cover the costs of legal representation for the Court of Appeal case now pending.
The shop stewards now understand that the legal bills are now being paid and the terms on which barristers will be engaged to handle the appeal have been agreed. All that remains is the outstanding issue of compensation and the protest has been suspended to allow urgent discussions on this.
Gordon McNeill today said:
"We are pleased that Unite now appears to have paid our legal costs and that we can now have a legal team in place for the appeal.
"We have suspended our action because we said that if Unite showed good faith by paying these bills, we would allow a space for an offer on compensation to be made and negotiated.
"I expect Unite to act with urgency on this so that I will be able to announce a final settlement of this long running issue. This will depend on them offering an amount of compensation that realistically reflects the six years of hardship and suffering that our families and ourselves have been put through."
Press Release by sacked Belfast airport workers - Friday 23rd May
Decision whether to recommence the hunger strike under review
The sacked airport shop stewards, Gordon McNeill and Chris Bowyer, who have been
on hunger strike on the balcony outside Transport House [Unite union offices, Belfast] suspended their action at 9 am this morning.
The men have come off the Transport House balcony. Gordon McNeill, who went five days without food and water, and a further three days without food, was suffering from chest pains and had to be assisted off. Chris Bowyer has been suffering bowel problems. Both men have now gone for urgent medical assistance.
The hunger strikers had made clear earlier in the week that they would temporarily suspend the hunger strike if the union made good its promise to pay outstanding legal bills and to cover the costs of legal representation for the Court of Appeal case now pending.
The shop stewards now understand that the legal bills are now being paid and the terms on which barristers will be engaged to handle the appeal have been agreed. All that remains is the outstanding issue of compensation and the protest has been suspended to allow urgent discussions on this.
Gordon McNeill today said:
"We are pleased that Unite now appears to have paid our legal costs and that we can now have a legal team in place for the appeal.
"We have suspended our action because we said that if Unite showed good faith by paying these bills, we would allow a space for an offer on compensation to be made and negotiated.
"I expect Unite to act with urgency on this so that I will be able to announce a final settlement of this long running issue. This will depend on them offering an amount of compensation that realistically reflects the six years of hardship and suffering that our families and ourselves have been put through."
dennisr
the acceptable face
Hi, the problem was that the union had agreed to pay and then didn't (twice in the case of the recent 2nd demonstation)
Yes, collecting for legal fees was something we have seriously discussed as well and this was disscused with the hunger strikers. The immediate problem was the urgency of payment so as to stop the suspension of the legal action. Unfortunately, money raised like this takes a while - time folk did not have. It is a lot of money to raise voluntarily out of individual and branch pockets but not a lot to union bureaucracies, solicitors etc
newbie
undisambiguated
thanks Dennis. I understand what you say, particularly about the immediacy necessary because of the hunger strike, but from here it seems like this has been going on for years and that these guys have been hung out to dry by their own and other branches as well as by the bureaucracy.
Whatever, you've clarified it, and they're receiving medical attention and have apparently forced the union to pay up, which is good.
Whatever, you've clarified it, and they're receiving medical attention and have apparently forced the union to pay up, which is good.
dennisr
the acceptable face
fingers crossed mate.
genuinely - i really don't want them to keep this up - i just hope it isn't more bureaucrat lies - i don't want them to throw away their lives even if i can fully understand how they feel forced to
nightbreed
Im Bored
Report here.
Many references have been made to these three workers being members of the TGWU. Whilst trying to lobby lay GEC delegates over the issue last week, I was informed on a few occasions that these three were lapsed union members. The fact related to me was that they had left the union about 5 years ago.
I feel the union still had a responsibility to put right the issue but I was a bit dissappointed that the three hadnt retained their membership.
Many references have been made to these three workers being members of the TGWU. Whilst trying to lobby lay GEC delegates over the issue last week, I was informed on a few occasions that these three were lapsed union members. The fact related to me was that they had left the union about 5 years ago.
I feel the union still had a responsibility to put right the issue but I was a bit dissappointed that the three hadnt retained their membership.
Rooftop Protest Resumed
PRESS RELEASE - Tuesday 27th May
Sacked airport shop steward, Gordon McNeill, enters thirteenth day on hunger strike
Gordon resumes rooftop protest on Transport House balcony.
"I will not end this protest until all the issues of dispute with the Unite leadership are resolved. My right to speak the truth is not for sale" Gordon McNeill
Sacked airport shop steward, Gordon McNeill, this afternoon resumed his public protest on the balcony of Transport House. Gordon will this evening enter the thirteenth day of a hunger strike demanding justice from the leadership of Unite.
Last Friday the shop stewards came off the Transport House balcony and suspended public campaigning activities to allow for talks with the union leadership to take place. The issue of outstanding legal bills and payment of the legal costs of an appeal by ICTS against the Tribunal decision in favour of the workers has been resolved.
However the issue of compensation is still in dispute. Discussions have taken place on this but have not reached a settlement. Gordon McNeill today explained:
"When I began this protest I made clear I would not end it until everything has been settled. I am determined not to let the union drag this out any longer. One way or another I am resolved that this will be the last time I will protest against my union leadership about this.
"Under the pressure of the hunger strike and mass support campaign the union have moved on the legal fees. Now all they have to do is make an offer of compensation to myself and my colleagues that reflects the years of hardship they have caused us.
"Such an offer should be made without strings. Every trade union member and the public as a whole deserves to be told the full truth about what has happened to us. My right to speak the truth is not for sale."
END
For more information contact:
Gordon McNeill - 07934632366
Chris Bowyer - 07764850945
Madan Gupta - 07810290938
For all the information please visit:
http://belfastairportworkers.wordpress.com/
PRESS RELEASE - Tuesday 27th May
Sacked airport shop steward, Gordon McNeill, enters thirteenth day on hunger strike
Gordon resumes rooftop protest on Transport House balcony.
"I will not end this protest until all the issues of dispute with the Unite leadership are resolved. My right to speak the truth is not for sale" Gordon McNeill
Sacked airport shop steward, Gordon McNeill, this afternoon resumed his public protest on the balcony of Transport House. Gordon will this evening enter the thirteenth day of a hunger strike demanding justice from the leadership of Unite.
Last Friday the shop stewards came off the Transport House balcony and suspended public campaigning activities to allow for talks with the union leadership to take place. The issue of outstanding legal bills and payment of the legal costs of an appeal by ICTS against the Tribunal decision in favour of the workers has been resolved.
However the issue of compensation is still in dispute. Discussions have taken place on this but have not reached a settlement. Gordon McNeill today explained:
"When I began this protest I made clear I would not end it until everything has been settled. I am determined not to let the union drag this out any longer. One way or another I am resolved that this will be the last time I will protest against my union leadership about this.
"Under the pressure of the hunger strike and mass support campaign the union have moved on the legal fees. Now all they have to do is make an offer of compensation to myself and my colleagues that reflects the years of hardship they have caused us.
"Such an offer should be made without strings. Every trade union member and the public as a whole deserves to be told the full truth about what has happened to us. My right to speak the truth is not for sale."
END
For more information contact:
Gordon McNeill - 07934632366
Chris Bowyer - 07764850945
Madan Gupta - 07810290938
For all the information please visit:
http://belfastairportworkers.wordpress.com/
dennisr
the acceptable face
Like the "£1 million each claim" its a union bureaucrat rouse to evade the real issues as far as I know.
This is from Peter Hadden's reply to a union bureaucrat defender on the indemedia ireland site:
"Are they members?
Gordon and Chris have informed Tony Woodley that they are withholding their subs in protest at the treatment they have received but will pay back the full arrears when the issue is resolved. Madan is the Unite rep in the City airport and has successfully stopped workers there from leaving to join another union over the way he has been mistreated.
Tony Woodley has accepted that they are still members. But whether they are or not is neither here nor there to the rights and wrongs of this dispute. Not many people would continue to pay subs to an organisation that had treated them in this way."
from here:
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/87574
dennisr
the acceptable face
Dennis, does this mean he is prepared to die,
that is incredible this day and age, has the national media picked up on it?
I know little more than yourself mate - we will have to wait and see
belboid
Exasperated, not angry.
this is getting fucking stupid, whoever is advising Goprdon McNeill should be wholly ashamed of themselves.
The million pound each wasn't 'a union bureaucrat rouse', it was the position put by the mens' solicitors. This - seemingly - fololows along the same lines. Greedy cunt solicuitors appear to be trying to make a mint of a brave mans life. Scum.
The million pound each wasn't 'a union bureaucrat rouse', it was the position put by the mens' solicitors. This - seemingly - fololows along the same lines. Greedy cunt solicuitors appear to be trying to make a mint of a brave mans life. Scum.
dennisr
the acceptable face
The heading of the Unite Press Release was "Strikers claiming £1 million each" not "Solicitors claiming £1 million in total" (which woulsd also not have been true - as £400,000 had already been paid) - so it had nowt to do with the solicitors.
Gordon is not listening to all the advice on offer - the SP for instance have advised against continued hunger strike - at the same time we have to recognise his anger and action
nightbreed
Im Bored
Thats a good post by Hadden. Makes things clear. But I still have to say that the source I know reported that the three said to the GEC that they wernt members. Nothing was said about witholding subs or Woodleys agreement to them being members. There is no provision in TGWU rules to do this.
The GEC member who witnessed this was a lay member not a union bureaucrat.
That aside I still believe the union were wrong to let this drag. It should have been sorted when the assurances were made.
belboid
Exasperated, not angry.
The letters gong around today make even more depressing reading. There seems to be a determination on both sides now not to settle. Meanwhile, the old Liverpool organiser Eddie Roberts, who was also shafted by Morris, has come to an amicable agreement with Woodley et al, his service to the union fully recognised and all financial issues agreed. Perhaps it would have been better if the stewards had been scousers.
Meanwhile, the old Liverpool organiser Eddie Roberts, who was also shafted by Morris, has come to an amicable agreement with Woodley et al, his service to the union fully recognised and all financial issues agreed. Perhaps it would have been better if the stewards had been scousers.
dennisr
the acceptable face
I still think it is pretty obvious that the union bureaucracy has been using this as a part of a smokescreen - as you say they should have dealt with it long, long before it got to such a stage. I cannot speak for 'what someone said' - clearly that is not the reality that is unfolding before our eyes. As for 'the rules' - well, I think we have to be blunt and say the union heads have been making up their rules as they have gone along and if these folk have bent rules - that does not begin to compare with what the union heads have done. You know as well as I do how union heads are more than used to using 'the rules' to their own benefit over the benefit of heir members.
Getting back to the cause of this entire dispute - the then union leadership completely shafted these strikers. They did deals with the strikers' employers behind the strikers (their own members) backs. The newer leadership should have done its best to at least begin to make up for this (they had plenty of time to do so) - instead they have continued to cover up, lie and prevaricate - no wonder Gordon and the other folk are absolutely fuming.
dennisr
the acceptable face
or if the present group could simply wait for a decade?
dennisr
the acceptable face
There seems to be a determination on both sides now not to settle.
It is likely to lead to quite a lot of fallout for the SP as well
Divisive Cotton
Now I just have my toy soldiers
Have you let LabourStart know about this?
It would be interesting to see one of their round robin emails campaigning on this issue
It would be interesting to see one of their round robin emails campaigning on this issue
Northern Ireland
Sacked airport workers accuse Unite leadership of issuing "black propaganda and disinformation" to try to discredit them.
Gordon McNeill remains on hunger strike at Transport House - His protest enters the 14th day.
Sacked airport workers' press release (Wednesday 28 May 2008)
"The Unite leadership's attempt to blacken my name and then to silence me through injunctions and threats of fines and imprisonment will not succeed." Gordon McNeill.
Sacked airport shop steward, Gordon McNeill, is now entering the 14th day of his hunger strike at Transport House in Belfast. Gordon and his fellow shop stewards, Madan Gupta and Chris Bowyer, are demanding that the union compensate them for the hardship caused when the union leadership conspired with their employer, ICTS, to get them sacked.
The shop stewards are also insisting that any offer of compensation must be without strings. In particular they are not prepared to sign up to the gagging clauses sought by the union.
The Unite leadership have responded, on the one hand, with a court injunction and the threat of fines and imprisonment, and on the other with a campaign of deliberate misinformation to try to discredit the protestors.
A statement from Unite, with comments from General Secretary, Tony Woodley and Irish Regional Secretary, Jimmy Kelly (issued on 28/5/08) claims that the reason that Gordon McNeill is on hunger strike is because he is demanding a million pounds compensation. This is completely untrue and the Unite leadership are fully aware that it is not true.
The shop stewards are not asking for a million pounds, as Tony Woodley and Jimmy Kelly both know. They are seeking a reasonable level of compensation that takes account the hardship the actions of senior union officials have put them through. And they are insistent that any offer must be without strings
Gordon McNeill today commented:
"I am disgusted that the Unite leadership have once again resorted to black propaganda and misinformation in order to discredit myself and my colleagues. As an ordinary union activist who has been blacklisted and out of work for six years because of the actions of my union leadership, I am outraged that these very well paid union officials should try to blacken my name by portraying my protest as "an unprincipled money grab"
"Tony Woodley and Jimmy Kelly well know that the million pound slur sank long ago and their attempt to re-float it just won't work. The union said they would compensate us and they should.
"But the compensation must be without strings. Unite want us to sign up to a deal that would prevent us from ever speaking out about the dispute. I want compensation but I also want other trade union members to know the full facts about what happened to us.
"Tony Woodley and Jimmy Kelly must realise that they cannot buy my silence and must remove the gagging clause from any future offer. If they refuse to do so the question that every Unite member, and trade unionists in general must ask is, "what are they trying to hide?"
The Unite statement goes on to attack the role of the Socialist Party. Jimmy Kelly says "the Socialist Party has apparently abandoned all its principles in order to support this circus and is now taking the view that disgruntled union members have a right to demand seven figure sums in compensation from their union and to go on hunger strike when they do not get it. This has nothing to do with socialism as I understand it."
Gordon McNeill, who is a member of the Socialist Party, today responded:
"As a member of the Socialist Party I am proud of the role played by my party colleagues who have stood by us from the very beginning of this struggle. It is Jimmy Kelly who has abandoned all basic trade union, never mind, socialist principles in justifying the way we have been betrayed and mistreated by our union leaders."
Socialist Party Northern Ireland Regional Secretary, Peter Hadden, commented:
"For Jimmy Kelly to try to dismissively describe shop stewards who have struggled for six years for justice from their employer and their union as "disgruntled union members" is insulting in the extreme.
"These workers performed a service for the entire trade union movement when, despite being refused assistance from their union, they took their employers to court and won a landmark ruling that they were sacked because of their trade union and socialist opinions. They deserve apologies, not insults, from a trade union bureaucracy that turned its back on them.
"Two of the shop stewards are members of the Socialist Party. Because we are concerned, first and foremost, about their health we have tried to persuade them not to go on hunger strike.
"However we fully understand why they feel that the actions of the union have left them with no alternative. Now that Gordon McNeill is on hunger strike we will stand behind him all the way and will continue to do everything in our power to expose the mistreatment he and his colleagues have received at the hands of senior Unite officials.
"As Jimmy Kelly knows this is not about seven figure sums. This is about justice. Jimmy Kelly's response has been to go to the courts to get an injunction banning the shop stewards from protesting "in or at" Transport House.
"The question I have for Jimmy Kelly is - what does attempting to buy someone's silence in order to suppress the facts of an injustice or using the courts and the police to deny workers the right to legitimate peaceful protest have to do with socialism?"
For more information contact: Gordon McNeill - 07934632366, Chris Bowyer - 07764850945, Madan Gupta - 07810290938
For all the information please visit: http://belfastairportworkers.wordpress.com/
Sacked airport workers accuse Unite leadership of issuing "black propaganda and disinformation" to try to discredit them.
Gordon McNeill remains on hunger strike at Transport House - His protest enters the 14th day.
Sacked airport workers' press release (Wednesday 28 May 2008)
"The Unite leadership's attempt to blacken my name and then to silence me through injunctions and threats of fines and imprisonment will not succeed." Gordon McNeill.
Sacked airport shop steward, Gordon McNeill, is now entering the 14th day of his hunger strike at Transport House in Belfast. Gordon and his fellow shop stewards, Madan Gupta and Chris Bowyer, are demanding that the union compensate them for the hardship caused when the union leadership conspired with their employer, ICTS, to get them sacked.
The shop stewards are also insisting that any offer of compensation must be without strings. In particular they are not prepared to sign up to the gagging clauses sought by the union.
The Unite leadership have responded, on the one hand, with a court injunction and the threat of fines and imprisonment, and on the other with a campaign of deliberate misinformation to try to discredit the protestors.
A statement from Unite, with comments from General Secretary, Tony Woodley and Irish Regional Secretary, Jimmy Kelly (issued on 28/5/08) claims that the reason that Gordon McNeill is on hunger strike is because he is demanding a million pounds compensation. This is completely untrue and the Unite leadership are fully aware that it is not true.
The shop stewards are not asking for a million pounds, as Tony Woodley and Jimmy Kelly both know. They are seeking a reasonable level of compensation that takes account the hardship the actions of senior union officials have put them through. And they are insistent that any offer must be without strings
Gordon McNeill today commented:
"I am disgusted that the Unite leadership have once again resorted to black propaganda and misinformation in order to discredit myself and my colleagues. As an ordinary union activist who has been blacklisted and out of work for six years because of the actions of my union leadership, I am outraged that these very well paid union officials should try to blacken my name by portraying my protest as "an unprincipled money grab"
"Tony Woodley and Jimmy Kelly well know that the million pound slur sank long ago and their attempt to re-float it just won't work. The union said they would compensate us and they should.
"But the compensation must be without strings. Unite want us to sign up to a deal that would prevent us from ever speaking out about the dispute. I want compensation but I also want other trade union members to know the full facts about what happened to us.
"Tony Woodley and Jimmy Kelly must realise that they cannot buy my silence and must remove the gagging clause from any future offer. If they refuse to do so the question that every Unite member, and trade unionists in general must ask is, "what are they trying to hide?"
The Unite statement goes on to attack the role of the Socialist Party. Jimmy Kelly says "the Socialist Party has apparently abandoned all its principles in order to support this circus and is now taking the view that disgruntled union members have a right to demand seven figure sums in compensation from their union and to go on hunger strike when they do not get it. This has nothing to do with socialism as I understand it."
Gordon McNeill, who is a member of the Socialist Party, today responded:
"As a member of the Socialist Party I am proud of the role played by my party colleagues who have stood by us from the very beginning of this struggle. It is Jimmy Kelly who has abandoned all basic trade union, never mind, socialist principles in justifying the way we have been betrayed and mistreated by our union leaders."
Socialist Party Northern Ireland Regional Secretary, Peter Hadden, commented:
"For Jimmy Kelly to try to dismissively describe shop stewards who have struggled for six years for justice from their employer and their union as "disgruntled union members" is insulting in the extreme.
"These workers performed a service for the entire trade union movement when, despite being refused assistance from their union, they took their employers to court and won a landmark ruling that they were sacked because of their trade union and socialist opinions. They deserve apologies, not insults, from a trade union bureaucracy that turned its back on them.
"Two of the shop stewards are members of the Socialist Party. Because we are concerned, first and foremost, about their health we have tried to persuade them not to go on hunger strike.
"However we fully understand why they feel that the actions of the union have left them with no alternative. Now that Gordon McNeill is on hunger strike we will stand behind him all the way and will continue to do everything in our power to expose the mistreatment he and his colleagues have received at the hands of senior Unite officials.
"As Jimmy Kelly knows this is not about seven figure sums. This is about justice. Jimmy Kelly's response has been to go to the courts to get an injunction banning the shop stewards from protesting "in or at" Transport House.
"The question I have for Jimmy Kelly is - what does attempting to buy someone's silence in order to suppress the facts of an injustice or using the courts and the police to deny workers the right to legitimate peaceful protest have to do with socialism?"
For more information contact: Gordon McNeill - 07934632366, Chris Bowyer - 07764850945, Madan Gupta - 07810290938
For all the information please visit: http://belfastairportworkers.wordpress.com/
dennisr
the acceptable face
The letter that Tony Woodley chose to ignore
One year ago (12 June 2007) Gordon McNeill wrote a letter to Tony Woodley offering a way to resolve all the differences between the airport workers and the union. The letter was also sent to other T&GWU officials in Ireland, including Irish Regional Secretary, Jimmy Kelly.
The letter was written immediately after the Fair Employment Tribunal hearing was completed but before the Tribunal had reached a decision. It was written in anticipation of the Tribunal finding in the workers favour and offered the union a change to get on board before the finding was announced.
As the letter says: “It would in my view, be an extremely positive message to send out to the trade union movement as a whole, that you as our union, backed us fully in our final push for justice. There is in my view a real opportunity to have one of the most effective recruitment moments in the history of our union through our dispute with ICTS……”
Had the Unite leadership responded positively to this offer all that has happened in the past year, including the current hunger strike, could have been avoided.
Sadly neither Tony Woodley nor Jimmy Kelly never replied to this genuine attempt to resolve the differences and use the airport workers’ victory to build the union.
We publish the full text of Gordon McNeill’s letter to allow Unite members and other trade unionists to see who the unreasonable party is in this long running dispute.
The rest of the letter is linked to from here:\http://belfastairportworkers.wordpress.com/
One year ago (12 June 2007) Gordon McNeill wrote a letter to Tony Woodley offering a way to resolve all the differences between the airport workers and the union. The letter was also sent to other T&GWU officials in Ireland, including Irish Regional Secretary, Jimmy Kelly.
The letter was written immediately after the Fair Employment Tribunal hearing was completed but before the Tribunal had reached a decision. It was written in anticipation of the Tribunal finding in the workers favour and offered the union a change to get on board before the finding was announced.
As the letter says: “It would in my view, be an extremely positive message to send out to the trade union movement as a whole, that you as our union, backed us fully in our final push for justice. There is in my view a real opportunity to have one of the most effective recruitment moments in the history of our union through our dispute with ICTS……”
Had the Unite leadership responded positively to this offer all that has happened in the past year, including the current hunger strike, could have been avoided.
Sadly neither Tony Woodley nor Jimmy Kelly never replied to this genuine attempt to resolve the differences and use the airport workers’ victory to build the union.
We publish the full text of Gordon McNeill’s letter to allow Unite members and other trade unionists to see who the unreasonable party is in this long running dispute.
The rest of the letter is linked to from here:\http://belfastairportworkers.wordpress.com/
dennisr
the acceptable face
Sacked airport shop steward, Gordon McNeill, calls off hunger strike after doctors threaten court action to have him force fed
Shop stewards say they will now defy and resist the Unite injunction barring them from protesting at Transport House
Press Release issued by sacked airport workers on Thursday 29 May
A major campaign to be launched to expose the role of the Unite leadership in this dispute and to help Unite members change the union. Gordon McNeill on the fourteenth day of his hunger strike was last night taken to hospital after police intervened and summoned an ambulance to Transport House.
Gordon continued to refuse food and fluids in hospital. However when doctors prepared to go to the High Court to get an order to feed him, Gordon ended his hunger strike rather than be force fed.
The sacked shop stewards are barred by an injunction got by Unite Regional Secretary, Jimmy Kelly, from protesting at Transport House. They are now planning a campaign to defend their democratic right to protest by defying the injunction.
They are also intent on launching a major campaign in Ireland, Britain and internationally to expose what the Unite leadership has done and link with other union activists who are campaigning to transform the unions into the fighting combative organisations they are supposed to be.
After Gordon had been taken to hospital, union officials in Transport House, in a display of petty vindictiveness, destroyed the tent and personal possessions the shop stewards had left behind on the balcony of the building.
Gordon McNeill today said:
"I have taken my hunger strike as far as I am able. If I had continued to refuse food I would have been kept in hospital and force fed. This would have lifted the pressure off the Unite leadership and would have been ineffective. My protest showed that Tony Woodley and Jimmy Kelly were prepared to see me die rather than give justice to myself and my two colleagues.
"It is an outrage that the union went to the lengths of serving us with an injunction barring us from protesting at Transport House and then called the police to have me removed from the building. I will not accept this infringement of my basic democratic rights and will be defying the injunction. After everything else these union leaders have done to me the threat of fines, court costs and imprisonment mean little to me now.
"Tony Woodley and Jimmy Kelly wanted to bribe us into silence about this dispute, and about and their role and the role of their predecessors in it. My answer is clear – my right to tell Unite members and other trade unionists what happened is not for sale. I know this means they will never pay me a penny in compensation but I will not forsake my principles for any amount of money.
"Rather than sign up to any gagging clause, we will now launch a campaign to make sure that the full truth, down to the last dot and comma, of what happened in this long dispute is made public so that the lessons can be drawn.
"I hope to launch this with a meeting in Liverpool hosted by the Liverpool dockers and other leading local trade unionists.
"As I have made clear throughout this struggle, I have no dispute with the rank and file members of Unite or any other union. My fight is with the Unite leadership. I will be making the case for all trade union officials to be elected, and to be paid the wages of the members they represent!"
For more information: http://belfastairportworkers.wordpress.com/
Shop stewards say they will now defy and resist the Unite injunction barring them from protesting at Transport House
Press Release issued by sacked airport workers on Thursday 29 May
A major campaign to be launched to expose the role of the Unite leadership in this dispute and to help Unite members change the union. Gordon McNeill on the fourteenth day of his hunger strike was last night taken to hospital after police intervened and summoned an ambulance to Transport House.
Gordon continued to refuse food and fluids in hospital. However when doctors prepared to go to the High Court to get an order to feed him, Gordon ended his hunger strike rather than be force fed.
The sacked shop stewards are barred by an injunction got by Unite Regional Secretary, Jimmy Kelly, from protesting at Transport House. They are now planning a campaign to defend their democratic right to protest by defying the injunction.
They are also intent on launching a major campaign in Ireland, Britain and internationally to expose what the Unite leadership has done and link with other union activists who are campaigning to transform the unions into the fighting combative organisations they are supposed to be.
After Gordon had been taken to hospital, union officials in Transport House, in a display of petty vindictiveness, destroyed the tent and personal possessions the shop stewards had left behind on the balcony of the building.
Gordon McNeill today said:
"I have taken my hunger strike as far as I am able. If I had continued to refuse food I would have been kept in hospital and force fed. This would have lifted the pressure off the Unite leadership and would have been ineffective. My protest showed that Tony Woodley and Jimmy Kelly were prepared to see me die rather than give justice to myself and my two colleagues.
"It is an outrage that the union went to the lengths of serving us with an injunction barring us from protesting at Transport House and then called the police to have me removed from the building. I will not accept this infringement of my basic democratic rights and will be defying the injunction. After everything else these union leaders have done to me the threat of fines, court costs and imprisonment mean little to me now.
"Tony Woodley and Jimmy Kelly wanted to bribe us into silence about this dispute, and about and their role and the role of their predecessors in it. My answer is clear – my right to tell Unite members and other trade unionists what happened is not for sale. I know this means they will never pay me a penny in compensation but I will not forsake my principles for any amount of money.
"Rather than sign up to any gagging clause, we will now launch a campaign to make sure that the full truth, down to the last dot and comma, of what happened in this long dispute is made public so that the lessons can be drawn.
"I hope to launch this with a meeting in Liverpool hosted by the Liverpool dockers and other leading local trade unionists.
"As I have made clear throughout this struggle, I have no dispute with the rank and file members of Unite or any other union. My fight is with the Unite leadership. I will be making the case for all trade union officials to be elected, and to be paid the wages of the members they represent!"
For more information: http://belfastairportworkers.wordpress.com/
nightbreed
Im Bored
Apart from whats on this weeks SP website, has anyone got an update as to whats happening?
Also are any of the three fit enough to speak at the NSSN event later this month?
Also are any of the three fit enough to speak at the NSSN event later this month?
dennisr
the acceptable face
Hi, I think one of them is likely too - seen an advert for a meet with the liverpool dockers a couple of days beforehand
To be honest their own site or indemedia.ie is probably the best ones - not a mine of information on either though]
I'll post up any more info as I get it
Letter From Liverpool Trades Council
FOR YOUR INFORMATION PLEASE SEE COPY OF LETTER BELOW TO GORDON McNEILL
Hi Gordon
Just to update everyone on the present situation and a possible way forward.
1. Alec McFadden approached Gordon McNeill last Tuesday (27.5.08) to call off the hunger strike and end the picketing of the Belfast TGWU Offices and that Gordon McNeill and the comrades take the issue of justice into the trade union movement.
2. Gordon McNeill agreed within three hours and Alec McFadden, President of Merseyside TUC organised a joint public meeting to take place on Wednesday 11th June in the Casa (Sacked Liverpool Dockers Club) in Liverpool. The platform was agreed as, Gordon McNeill, Kevin Robinson (Sacked Liverpool Docker), Ricky Tomlinson and Alec McFadden President Merseyside TUC as the Chair.
3. The local press picked up the story and the Daily Post ran a half page article on Saturday which was very supportive of the Gordon McNeill case.
4) The meeting details were circulated far and wide with a very positive reaction, and we were expecting a very big turn out plus a feature article on Gordon McNeill to be printed in the Liverpool Echo.
5) On Wednesday 4th June Alec McFadden received a phone call from Terry Teague (Sacked Liverpool Docker) informing him, that following a request from the General Secretary of Unite the Casa Committee they had agreed to cancel the meeting - with a view to a more balanced platform in the near future.
6) Discussions have taken place between Alec McFadden President of Merseyside TUC and Gordon McNeill and Terry Teague and Alec McFadden has taken advice from comrades and his legal team.
7) We all agreed the following - that a public Meeting should take place on Saturday 21st June in either the CASA or St Michaels. The speakers would be a balanced platform of Gordon McNeill, General Secretary of Unite or Jimmy Kelly, plus Chris Bowyer or Madan Gupta - plus a Sacked Docker, with Alec McFadden President Merseyside TUC as chair.
8) We very much welcome your suggestions that a joint closed meeting between the former TGWU shop stewards from ICTS Belfast, and the General Secretary of TGWU section of Unite could resolve the dispute, and that the only outstanding issue in terms of the compromise agreement is the length of the gagging clause.
Your agreement to join the Union should also help resolve the dispute. Lets keep in touch over the next couple of days
Alec McFadden
President Merseyside TUC
FOR YOUR INFORMATION PLEASE SEE COPY OF LETTER BELOW TO GORDON McNEILL
Hi Gordon
Just to update everyone on the present situation and a possible way forward.
1. Alec McFadden approached Gordon McNeill last Tuesday (27.5.08) to call off the hunger strike and end the picketing of the Belfast TGWU Offices and that Gordon McNeill and the comrades take the issue of justice into the trade union movement.
2. Gordon McNeill agreed within three hours and Alec McFadden, President of Merseyside TUC organised a joint public meeting to take place on Wednesday 11th June in the Casa (Sacked Liverpool Dockers Club) in Liverpool. The platform was agreed as, Gordon McNeill, Kevin Robinson (Sacked Liverpool Docker), Ricky Tomlinson and Alec McFadden President Merseyside TUC as the Chair.
3. The local press picked up the story and the Daily Post ran a half page article on Saturday which was very supportive of the Gordon McNeill case.
4) The meeting details were circulated far and wide with a very positive reaction, and we were expecting a very big turn out plus a feature article on Gordon McNeill to be printed in the Liverpool Echo.
5) On Wednesday 4th June Alec McFadden received a phone call from Terry Teague (Sacked Liverpool Docker) informing him, that following a request from the General Secretary of Unite the Casa Committee they had agreed to cancel the meeting - with a view to a more balanced platform in the near future.
6) Discussions have taken place between Alec McFadden President of Merseyside TUC and Gordon McNeill and Terry Teague and Alec McFadden has taken advice from comrades and his legal team.
7) We all agreed the following - that a public Meeting should take place on Saturday 21st June in either the CASA or St Michaels. The speakers would be a balanced platform of Gordon McNeill, General Secretary of Unite or Jimmy Kelly, plus Chris Bowyer or Madan Gupta - plus a Sacked Docker, with Alec McFadden President Merseyside TUC as chair.
8) We very much welcome your suggestions that a joint closed meeting between the former TGWU shop stewards from ICTS Belfast, and the General Secretary of TGWU section of Unite could resolve the dispute, and that the only outstanding issue in terms of the compromise agreement is the length of the gagging clause.
Your agreement to join the Union should also help resolve the dispute. Lets keep in touch over the next couple of days
Alec McFadden
President Merseyside TUC
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