Joe Higgins Statement on Hangargate

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Wednesday February 17, 2010 19:02

by Ghurnet

Press Statement from Joe Higgins MEP, Socialist Party

“It is extraordinary how the media is a willing tool in acting as a bullhorn for Ryananir’s Michael O’Leary in the controversy over his demand to be handed over Hangar 6 at Dublin Airport in order to provide 300 aircraft maintenance jobs".

“The massive publicity given to Ryanair’s dictat that it must have absolute control over the major hangar at Dublin Airport to create these jobs is in stark contrast with the failure of the media and establishment political parties to support our call at the beginning of last year for ALL 1150 jobs to be secured through the renationalisation of the SR Technics facility which had 3 years of work on its order books. At that point it would have been entirely possible for the state to set up a publicly owned aircraft maintenance. Instead a multinational company was allowed to wreak havoc on this highly viable industry with no outrage on the part of the media.

“Mr O’Leary’s current manoeuvrings in demanding control over Hangar 6 are deeply cynical and his attitude, even by his standards, extraordinarily arrogant. Michael O’Leary is taking advantage of the unemployment crisis and is being allowed to portray himself in the media as a saviour of workers’ rights. However, will he guarantee that workers’ wages and conditions would be maintained at the level of that of SR Technics workers and allow union organisation?

“Ryanair’s anti-union and anti-worker activities over the last number of years shows that Mr. O’Leary is no workers’ champion. His motivation in demanding ownership of Hangar 6 or nothing is highly suspicious to say the least.

“I am calling for a different approach entirely to job creation in aircraft maintenance rather than a blind dependence on companies like Ryanair. Team Aer Lingus which was built into a premier company with a worldwide reputation is a model of what can be achieved. I call on the state to intervene now to re-establish a state owned aircraft maintenance plant, to restore the thousand jobs lost last year including the dozens of apprentices who were let go.”

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Comments (4 of 4)

Sad news

by Margaret Lynne

Wed Feb 17, 2010 19:19

I was saddened to read on the Irish Times website comments attributed to the Unite Irish leader Jimmy Kelly about this mess. Here Jimmy Kelly seems to be backing the anti-union Michael O'Leary. I was shocked when I read this and it has opened my eyes to what Jimmy has become.

This is what the Irish Times site says.

The Unite trade union, which represents aircraft maintenance workers at the airport, called on Government and Ryanair to “sort out the mess” regarding the jobs.

“It is very rare that a union will agree with Michael O’Leary,“ said spokesman Jimmy Kelly.

“This should be nothing to do with personalities though, and everything to do with the future of 300 highly skilled workers and their families,” he added.

Mr Kelly said: “Politicians on every side are playing games with workers futures. The Government has acted too slowly again to save jobs that will be the making of our country’s future.”

irishtimes.com - Last Updated: Wednesday, February 17, 2010, 17:34
Dáil row over airport jobs issue

UNITED

by uniter

Thu Feb 18, 2010 23:50

It’s a pity Jimmy Kelly and UNITE didn’t fight to keep the jobs in SR Technics when they had the chance. UNITE were disgraceful in their treatment of their members in SR Technics. Marching them up to the top of the hill and ……. fuck all…

JIMMY KELLY

by lefty - none

Fri Feb 19, 2010 16:37

I agree it is quite sad what jimmy kelly has become and his statements on this are shocking from anyone on the left.

to me it is just inexplicable

O'Leary wants a foot in the door

by Hugh Murphy - Sacked by ITGWU and Belfast employers

Sun Feb 21, 2010 14:42

Joe Higgins is exactly right when he views O'Leary's motives with suspicion. I suppose O'Leary will he'll be claiming next that his middle name is Larkin. Any so called union leader who falls for this nonsense is being deluded - the same way they were deluded when they had their workers working for buttons while the capatilists sent the country down the tubes.

I would've thought by now that by now they'd have realised - that "Greed is not Good" for workers, only employers, who, when they make a knickers of falsely inflating the economy can be bailed out by the poor while they still live in splendor. Before anymore of these Stupid Union Leaders support O'Leary - in public for a change - why don't they ask O'Leary if the workers he intends to employ will be allowed to join the union which champions his cause.

Although I have had my differences with Joe in the past [ mostly because he thought I had another agenda] I would advise these [for want of better descriptions] union leaders, to Listen to Joe Higgins and get all the workers jobs back

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Joe Higgins Statement on Hangargate

Comments (4 of 4)