When Connex were awarded the running of the new LUAS tram system, they obviously decided to model themselves on William Martin Murphy, the last tram operator in the city who ruthlessly suppressed and exploited his workforce at every turn.

Knowing their history, the last thing they wanted was a Jim Larkin emerging to take them on, so they gave SIPTU sole negotiating rights and forced every worker to join and remain a member of the union as part of their contract. In return, SIPTU shamefully signed up to a clause that prevented the workforce from engaging in ANY form of industrial action, however limited.

It's like a modern extortion racket. The union collects the subs in return for telling the workers that there is nothing they can do about any of their conditions and Connex are laughing all the way to the bank.

Workers on the LUAS have had enough. In a very significant development, they have got together and formed the DDC (Disgruntled Drivers Committee). Through a sophisticated network designed to keep identities secret because of the likelihood of instant dismissal of those involved, they have begun to organise the drivers together in order to get action on the key issues. They already have the allegiance of a majority of the drivers.

A boot boy management operate with total disregard for the workforce. Workers have been sacked and victimised for speaking out. Shifts are often ten hours but the company only pays for hours worked. While the shift may last ten hours to coincide with the timetable, they only "work" eight hours and the rest is unpaid. The promised two weekends off a month has been removed without negotiation.

Connex impose a flat salary, no extra benefits for Sundays, public holidays, or anti-social starts, even though some shifts start at 4.15am and a put up or shut up approach, on every issue. The DDC is organising to force the union to tackle these issues. This is what privatisation looks like.

Their battle is in the interests of all workers particularly those in Dublin Bus and Irish Rail. Over the coming months they will be exposing the antics of Connex and putting it up to SIPTU to deal with it or stand aside.