Monday 1 June 2009

Strike fear at Dublin box hub

http://www.ifw-net.com/freightpubs/ifw/indexarticle.htm?artid=1243847141569


The threat of strike action is hanging over one of Dublin’s largest container terminals because of a dispute between workers and bosses over pay and redundancy.
Marine Terminals, which accounts for around 25% of traffic handled at the port, has made 19 redundancies from its workforce of 81 and is renegotiating workers’ pay because of the economic downturn.
Workers said they were unhappy with the redundancy offer - and as a result only five of the 19 staff members made redundant did so voluntarily - and the new pay levels on offer.
The workers’ union SIPTU-MPGWU has referred the case to the Irish government under the Protection of Employment Act.
SIPTU-MPGWU organiser Oliver McDonagh also said the workers had voted to go on strike, but this was on hold while the case was reviewed by the Irish government.
He said: "We understand that there has to be some redundancies and we do actually understand there are other issues that need to be dealt with as far as other costs are concerned.
"If they had negotiated the redundancy package with us they would have got volunteers and we told them that all the way through the process."
A Peel Ports spokesman said: "It’s extremely regrettable that we have been forced to take this action. We were keen to ensure that we achieved this through voluntary redundancies, but the situation is urgent - we have no other option."
The spokesman added Peel Ports had been in negotiations with the workers’ union for over two months and the wages enjoyed by the terminal’s workers were "far above industry norms".

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Peel ports,no matter what they say dont neogotiate,they will meet you yes,but on there terms and already have there mind made up to railroad there plans through regardless.They haven't taken over belfast vt3 container terminal or dublin terminal that long and have managed to bring the mens moral down to an all time low through there managements bullying tactics

Anonymous said...

some of the most expierienced crane drivers in the british isles work at belfasts vt3 and dublins terminals but these men have been treated with contempt by peels management.the companys aggressive tactics and bullying (as seen in dublins labour courts)is nothing short of disgraceful

Anonymous said...

It is the same in Liverpool and Medway both Peel Ports. Amateur mamagement is destroying successful businesses. Anon.

Anonymous said...

oh my god this managment is an absolute disgrace shame on them the way they treat decent hard working people all i can do is hope they are told where to go. Their main goal is too tear unions and men apart they dont care about customers. pure scum.

Anonymous said...

I agree with what everyone has said here. I am one of the workers at MTL in Dublin and the way they treating all their staff goes beyond words! They have even screwed over some of the very few workers that signed up to the new terms and conditions on offer. Everyone who did not except them got letters stating that those terms had officially been withdrawn but the people who signed up did not get those letters. They were forced to cross the picket lines or else face immediate termination from their employment! And I know for a fact that some of them did not want to cross.

It is also disgraceful the way they are bare faced lying to the media about everything! They claim that they have been open to negotiations throughout the strike, this is not true! They claim that they are offering redundancy packages of €75,000, NOT TRUE! None of the people they made redundant got that much, the average was actually only €37,000. I could go on for hours here but I think you all know what this company is like. I urge everyone who has dealings with this company to reconsider your business with them.

A concerned dock worker....

Anonymous said...

i also agree with the views on these pages.what annoys me is that some of my fellow unite members have travelled to dublin to shore up peel ports intrest,i also believe dock workers from northern ireland are doing the same.could anyone clarify the unions position on these workers

C Shift Tug rep said...

I've just been on the Unite site and found the contact details for Unite in Ireland. http://www.unitetheunion.com/regions/ireland.aspx
Please post on here any reply you manage to get.
Many thanks
Andy Hussey
Workforce rep
Port of Felixstowe.

Anonymous said...

Just when you think they cant be any more inhuman you would be wrong think the worst of this managment and expect the worst i myself work for marine terminals in dublin and while we are out on strike the so called company proceeded to initiate compulsory redundancies on 9 of the people who are currently out on strike. ITs sickening. Heres a dangerous precedent this company will set for all, being made redundant while on strike. Good luck to us all.

Anonymous said...

if any of you are interested in following this ongoing and will be ongoing until satisfactory negotiations have taken place visit: http://www.mtldockers.com/index.html
Thanks any support we get.

Anonymous said...

Doing the same in liverpool. They will destroy peoples lives without hesitation. Anyone who already works at a place where they take over ALWAYS takes a massive hit. A truly abhorrent organisation