Ballybrack Three Statement On Thir Release From Prison

by Dun Laoghaoire People Before Profit Sat Feb 25, 2006 16:01

SALUTE THE BALLYBRACK THREE AND KEEP UP THE FIGHT FOR WORKERS RIGHTS

*Keith Kelly, Andrew Clarke and Billy Mc Clurg spent two weeks in prison because they stood up for trade union rights and jobs with proper pay and conditions for all workers. They were fighting for all of us.

*The Ballybrack 3 exposed the scandal where bosses in the building industry are using sub—contractors to drive down the wages and conditions. Over 130,000 building workers are not having their pension, death in benefit and sick pay contributions paid in for them by bogus sub-contractors and cowboy builders. Building bosses are flouting the law for profit yet the government does nothing.

*The dispute in Ballybrack is the tip of an iceberg. Irish Ferries, GAMA or the recent sacking of Joanne Delaney by Dunnes Stores for wearing a union badge, show bosses in this country are lining up to bash trade unions and create slave labour conditions for all workers.

*The dispute with Collen also shows there is one law for the rich and another for the rest of us. Three trade union members were jailed in an instant for protesting while employers that flout labour law and health and safety regulations get away scot-free. For example, 23 workers died on building sites last year because builders do not have proper health and safety on their sites. Yet no building boss has spent even a day in prison.

*It is also a disgrace that over 50Gardai were deployed every day for more than a week at Collen’s site in UCD to harass and intimidate peaceful protesters. This is taxpayers money which could be spent on important things like health and education.

*Some politicians tried to blame the builders protest for slowing down the delivery of council houses. This is nonsense. Poor building standards led Laurel Avenue to fall apart in the first place leaving residents living a 20-year nightmare.

*Now the council is finally replacing the houses on Laurel Avenue they want to use cowboy builders and build the houses on the cheap. If we want decent houses for people on the housing list we must ensure workers rights and proper building standards are maintained.

*The housing list gets longer every year because the council builds a tiny number of council houses but allow private developers make a fortune building over-priced apartment and exclusive developments

*It is obvious the construction bosses and a wealthy elite in this country have politicians and the courts on their side. No wonder the main parties get political donations from developers! This golden circle don’t care about workers rights or people on the housing list.

*The trade union leaders are also not fighting on our behalf. In the Irish ferries and the Ballybrack three dispute, union leaders should have called all-out strikes instead of wasting their time in partnership talks with the bosses. Employers that bash unions and put workers in jail are not our partners!

*But the actions of Keith Billy and Andrew and struggles like Irish Ferries or the Rossport 5, show ordinary working people are fed up with injustice and corruption in this country. We must link all these struggles together into a major fight to put the rights of people before greed and profit. We must create community organisations and reclaim our trade unions to fight on our behalf.

* Dun Laoghaire People Before Profit Alliance salutes Keith, Billy, Andrew and their families for beginning this important battle. But we need more people to get involved and get active if we are to achieve fair play and justice for all in this country.

If you want to see fair play for workers and a society that puts people before profit, get involved in the People Before Profit Alliance.

by Another Sat Feb 25, 2006 17:28

Because it's not. What's your agenda? Are you with those trolls who rubbished the lads, the picketers and supporters these last two weeks.
I think we should be told.

by maura harrington - davitt league Sat Feb 25, 2006 17:44

For the information of 'Curious' whatever 'it' he's talking doesn't say SWP simply because the People before Profit/Davitt League alliance is for all those who know how rotten this FF/PD-run state is.

It might behove 'Curious' to apply his curiosity to who benefits from cosy deals done behind closed doors to the exclusion of the people which produce no long-term benefit for the people.

If you're curious about where I'm coming from on this, here's something to whet anyone's curiosity - who now controls our natural resources? who benefits? why can Tony O'Reilly play land/sealord with 25 Trillion Cubic Feet (TCF) of natural gas which once belonged to you and me and everybody else? why doesn't it belong to us anymore?........

Let's see how curious you really are...

by Watcher Sat Feb 25, 2006 18:03

Richie Boyd Barrett and the IAWM are the registered owners of the PBP website. Makes you think? No?

by old hand ex B.A.T.U. Sat Feb 25, 2006 18:45

Billy and the other lads,stop letting these trots do the runing,you done your best,put it was a losted cause before it even started.B.A.T.U. did not and could not back you,you and I know that,the trots in the union wound have side go and do it. They all put their hands out for their pay this week,when that chipie did not go to jail ,I knew that was the end,you had to come out.You all put up a good show,what you were protesting about needs to be looked at.The union is weaker now than before you went to jail,the builders come out of this looking good.I know that is not what you were looking for,but thats the way it is.Billy look at this people-before-profit/Davitt Leauge,even the name,they robbed from working people in Ballymun,with out asking them,Sell to Sea/Davitt Leauge,them again trying to take over other peoples good work.It sad to have to say all this,put some one has too.

by where did the truth go?? - help the broken 3 Thu Mar 02, 2006 00:12

one union offical and a certain unemployed 38 year old political activist,are to blame for the ballybrack mess.
we cant say what was lost but we know their was nothing won!!
why did the leadership of B.A.T.U LET THIS HAPPEN?
is the general sec. still in control????
why is mr boyd barrrt so close too B.A.T.U?????
is there a politiacal connection?
i think there is...............
and collens know there is!
WHY DID THIS HAPPEN???????
WHERE WILL IT END ???????
what happened to the truth