Construction unions propose 7.5% wage- cut

by bambora Thu Sep 09, 2010 14:24

It's like the unions are playing the good cop / bad cop routine with the employers . Either you accept the 7.5 per cent cut we're negotiating on your behalf or else the bosses will impose 20% cuts on you.Why should workers have to accept any cuts?

by Unemployed G.O. - SIPTU Thu Sep 09, 2010 21:31

I have worked in the construction industry for most of my life. I have worked within the REA and through circumstances beyond my control worked outside of the REA.I have worked in the black economy(my dole bringing my wage up to a decent wage). I have been so-called self-employed(a way of not having to pay holiday money, travelling time,overtime, PRSI and pension etc. I have to say the REA is my most favoured.
If as we have and are being told "Its the only deal in town" what will construction worker's get in return?
All through the Celtic tiger years all construction worker's witnessed worker's being exploited and let it happen as they either felt its not effecting them or didn't want to rock the the boat. We(brickies laourer's) with the last firm I worked for tried to right some of the wrongs, we had some success's but management and sub-contractor's are as slippy as wet eel's. there is even more blatant exploitation at present.
Now if the union's are to ask us to accept this wage cut(lots of the major contractor's have already introduced wage cuts). What are they going to demand from the employer's? What I want to see at least is.
1. A visible commitment to direct employment from the main contractor's. This would go a long way to stamp out wrong rates of pay, bogus self-employer and health and safety etc.
2. That all sub-contractor's prove beyond a doubt that their employee's are working within the REA.
These are my two main demands as I do not want to see what has has been happening during my time happening again.

by Gearóid - IWU Tue Sep 14, 2010 14:36

The bureaucrats of the trade union movement now obviously view their role to be one of managing the attacks on workers. Years of partnership between management and union leaders have resulted in a new industrial order with union bureaucrats taking the side of the ruling class and implementing the savage cuts necessary to increase profits and share prices. Little wonder trade union membership has reached record low levels.

by sucker taxpayer Thu Oct 21, 2010 23:10

is it another sweetheart deal like the imdemify agreement batu boss signed with the cif(cartel) to remove bricklaying contractors off sites at start of the celtic tiger