RNU Support Green Isle strikers-Report

kildare | worker & community struggles and protests | press release

Sunday October 04, 2009 00:33

by Republican Network for Unity Kildare - Republican Network for Unity

republicannetworkkildare at gmail dot com

DEFEND WORKERS RIGHTS!

RNU support Green Isle strikers-Report

Today(Saturday 3rd,October), RNU members from Kildare and Dublin attended a picket in solidarity with those involved in an official dispute with Green Isle Foods, Naas(Part of Northern Foods UK Ltd) organised by the T.E.E.U,

The T.E.E.U is in official dispute with Green Isle Foods, Naas. [Part of Northern Foods UK Ltd] The dispute centres on a mistake by the company’s I.T department, which sent sensitive boardroom and financial information about the restructuring of the maintenance department, with the proposed loss of 6 members jobs. When this information was shared with other members in the shop, suspensions and dismissals followed for alleged wrong doing when clearly this was managements mistake and they are now attempting to shift blame to the workers on the shop floor. The error was exposed, when an Engineer and secretary of an executive Director had the same first letter in their forename and the same surname. Therefore Green Isles future plans was exposed to the engineer by fault of the company.

The workers involved in the dispute are conducting a 24-hour strike, which is being managed in shifts, RNU attended Today and for afew hours formed a picket along the main road outside the premises to alert passers-by and motorists of the Green Isle workers plight, the response from those walking by and the beeps of support from the majority of motorists driving by was a huge morale boost for those participating in the strike, it was obvious the people of Naas and Kildare are supportive of the workers stance,

Also present at the picket, were the Gardai, who drove a van up and down the road , driving slowly past the strikers and RNU activists several times, in a poor attempt at intimidation, obviously in the interest of the company at fault,

While these workers are involved in official dispute,Green Isle has shipped over 40 temporary workers from Britain, otherwise known as scabs, who are staying and being catered for at the Kilashee Hotel,Naas and are being ferried to and from the complex by Millennium cabs based in Naas,
RNU Kildare and Dublin are considering possible pickets at these premises that facilitate and profit from this unscrupulous and greedy company who have betrayed its workers,

RNU will continue to support the striking workers,and attend the picket line whenever possible, we wish them all the best in their endeavours and struggle for justice, let us hope they get it.

Le gach beannacht,
RNU Kildare

Statement ends.