Protest March in support of Doyle Concrete/ Steelite workers

kildare | worker & community struggles and protests | event notice Monday February 20, 2006 19:07 by Jim

A Protest Rally will take place in Rathangan, Co. Kildare at 2.30p.m. on Saturday 25th February, in support of the Doyle Concrete/Steelite workers.

On the 18th November, 2005, the strike was resolved. The Company agreed a return to work formula in line with Labour Court Recommendation No. 18381. After two weeks, the company tore up the agreement and laid off 16 of our members. The issues in dispute were immediately referred back to the Labour Court who again found in the Union's favour. The terms of the recommendation were as follows:

Redundancy Terms
If Redundancies were to take place, a lump sum equivalent to 5 weeks per year of service (incl. of statutory terms) should apply.

Selection Criteria
Redundancies should be in the first instance, on a voluntary basis across Doyle Concrete/Steelite. If insufficient numbers apply then redundancies should be on a last in/first out basis across Doyle Concrete/Steelite. The Court further recommended that lay-offs should be on a last in first out basis across Doyle Concrete/Steelite.

The Court issued its final recommendation on Monday 6th February, 2006. The Company have refused to implement the terms of the recommendation and have closed the Doyle Concrete Division of the Company and have informed us that they will make our members redundant.

Currently we have members, some of whom have over 30years service, out of work while strike breakers with less than one years service continue to work.

In light of the Company's decision not to implement the terms of the Labour Court Recommendation, our members have voted overwhelmingly for strike action, again.

This is where we need your help. Never did a group of workers need your support and solidarity as our Brothers in Doyle Concrete/Steelite do now. Your generosity during the last strike was magnificent for which we are eternally grateful. But we need to turn the Rally in Rathangan into a huge display of Solidarity against Displacement. I know it is short notice, but time is of the essence. We need as many people as possible on the day and make sure to bring your banners as well.

I would urge you to make a huge effort to attend. The numbers we have on the street will have a huge bearing on the outcome of this dispute.