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2009

Kildare trade unions to mount colourful ‘March for Justice’ in Naas in support of Green Isle strikers

Date Released: 30 Oct 2009

The Kildare Council of Trade Unions is planning a spectacular and loud demonstration of solidarity with its ‘March for Justice’ with the Green Isle strikers in Naas tomorrow (Saturday October 31). There is cross-party support for the demonstration. Most of the TDs for Kildare are expected to attend as well as Socialist Party MEP Joe Higgins and the President of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Jack O’Connor.

Among the unions which have pledged support for the march are SIPTU, Unite the INTO and Mandate and the local pipe band has promised to attend. The strikers, who have been ten weeks on the picket line, are members of the Technical Engineering and Electrical Union. The men took action after the company sacked seven TEEU members for alleged misconduct and refused to allow them union representation before the dismissals took place.

The union is demanding reinstatement for the men. The company has spurned all efforts by the state’s mediation machinery to resolve the dispute although it has received grants worth €43 million in state aid.

TEEU General Secretary Designate, Eamon Devoy, said the Kildare Council of Trade Unions had called Saturday’s march “to raise awareness of the management’s injustice and to show support for the workers in the local community. Our members on strike are making a huge sacrifice to defend their colleagues right to natural justice and union representation.

“Management refuses to engage with us and has rejected offers of help from the Labour Relations Commission, the National Implementation Body and the Labour Court in resolving the dispute. Green Isle management seems determined to starve our members back to work. They brought in British strike breakers before the dispute even began. However a number have left after being arrested for serious public disorder offences, including assault, in Naas. They have been replaced by Irish strike breakers hired through local recruitment agencies.

“The dispute has taken its toll on our members. Of  33 TEEU members who started out on the picket line, 26 are left.”

The march begins at 2pm from the Kildare County Council Offices, Devoy House, Naas, on Saturday. “We are urging local people to come along and demonstrate solidarity with our members and their families, who are showing tremendous bravery and resilience in their pursuit of justice for sacked colleagues.”





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