Irish Ferries - is this the end of social partnership?

Issued : Monday 12 December, 2005

Solidarity is strength.

Throughout the industrial west, unions are facing challenges to even maintain existing employment standards. From Gate Gourmet to Irish Ferries, we are being reminded that unscrupulous employers will do when they get away with. But these disputes also remind us of a lesson well learned in this city in 1913-our best asset is our ability to fight back with solidarity.

This solidarity is evident today in Dublin and right across the country.

Labour Youth for our part is fully behind all efforts to defeat attacks on employment standards. We support the Bill presented by Labour in the Dail that is designed to take action against the re-flagging of ships under flags of convenience which would protect ferry workers, which is being oppossed by the government. And we support the Unions who refuse enter partnership talks until this dispute is resolved in favour of workers. We also support efforts by Unions to organise the unorganised as the best way to stop to return our movement to a position of real strength.

A century ago, Labour Jim Larkin thought our movement that an "injury to one is an injury to all". A message as relevant today as ever.

Is this the end of social partnership?

The Government and the Taoiseach have refused to intervene in defence of the Irish Ferries workers. They say there is nothing they can do.

This is a lie. The government at a European level have consistently blocked attempts to introduce regulations which would prohibit the outsourcing of maritime jobs at rates below the national minimum wage. In 1999 FF/ PDs refused to support the draft EU Directive on Seafarers' Rights which would have safeguarded Irish minimum rates of pay.

Fianna Fil and the PDs have also refused to adopt and put into law a Labour Party bill that would protect the jobs of the Irish Ferries workers and other workers in similar situations from being "yellowpacked". The government and employers through their actions are nailing the last nail in the coffin of social partnership.

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