Click Here for March 2004 issue
Workplace News - South
Name the Date for Strike Action!
By John McCamley, Dublin Bus driver

On 23 February, Dublin Bus workers took limited strike action in their ongoing campaign against privatisation.

The strike action was organised by union leaders from 11.00am to 3.00pm in order to cause the minimum amount of disruption. In doing so the leaderships of the NBRU and SIPTU have once again angered and frustrated many bus drivers, who correctly don't see the point in taking industrial action which has little effect on the Government.

Talks on Seamus Brennan's plans to break up CIE and to privatise Dublin Bus and Bus Eireann are fast approaching their 19 March deadline for completion.

Brennan stood in the Dail with this deadline less than three weeks off and fully defended the Government's position and stating that he was committed to privatising 25% of Dublin's bus routes as soon as possible.

Yet what are the leaderships of SIPTU and the NBRU doing in preparation for the likely failure of talks? Nothing. There have been no meetings of Dublin Bus workers called by either of the unions to report back on the talks or to discuss what our options are if they fail.

SIPTU have named 18 March for a day of unspecified industrial action. Dublin Bus drivers are in danger of being led to a major defeat if our union officials are allowed to continue on their current path of inaction and consiliation with the Government.

The 18 March should be named as the date for a one day strike by Dublin Bus, Bus Eireann and Iarnroid Eireann workers if the Government don't abandon their plans. There is also talk that Aer Rianta workers may take industrial action on 18 March.

A one day shut down of the country's bus, rail and airport networks, as the signal of the start of a serious campaign of strike action against the privatisation of CIE and Aer Rianta must be campaigned for by all public transport workers.

Activists should call "unofficial" meetings of SIPTU and NBRU members in Dublin Bus to discuss how we can immediately force our union officials to organise a campaign of strike action to defeat the Government.
Postal Strike
CWU Fails to Deliver

An Post staff in several offices around the country have engaged in an effective work to rule over the last weeks. The action has been taken because of continued non-payment of the 3% and the ongoing threat of cutbacks and up to 1,300 job losses.

A delapidated sorting office and worsening working conditions led to a one-day stoppage in Tuam, Co. Galway. After the stoppage workers engaged in a work to rule when management refused to authorise overtime to deal with the backlog. In Drogheda, post boxes were sealed by the company in an attempt to deal with a two day backlog after workers refused to cover shifts for those on leave in a row over overtime arrangements. A separate dispute also developed in Mitchelstown, Co. Cork.

The CWU needs to lead a battle on the real issues, the delivery of the 3% without delays, no jobs losses, real investment into the postal service and the fight to keep our services public - no privatisation.

Workers shouldn't hold their breath, though, considering that CWU General Secretary, Con Scanlon, earns €250,000 per year as a director of Eircom Ltd., Eircom Esot Trustee Ltd., Eircom Fundings (Holdings) Ltd. and Valentia Telecommuniations.

No wonder Con hasn't time to deal with the issues of the people he represents, he's too busy spending his money! A delivery person earns an average of €354.12 per week. It's time to kick out the bureaucrats, we need fighting democratic unions to represent our interests.
Industrial Action Threatened on Decentralisation

The Association of Higher Civil and Public Servants (AHCPS) at a special delegate conference voted by over 80 per cent to take any action necessary to halt the government's decentralisation plan.

Charlie McCreevy, on the morning of the special conference, threatened dire electoral consequences if the plan does not materialise and made explicit what everyone knew - that decentralisation is a means by which FF and the PDs hope to improve their electoral chances in the election.

The proposed geographical spread of government offices had already made this clear, with government departments conveniently located in Ministers' constituencies. If this plan is allowed to go ahead, it will severely impact on the lives of these workers who will be forced to uproot families at the whim of a Minister. Those who want to remain in Dublin will effectively have no jobs to go to, making it highly unlikely that the plan will remain 'voluntary'. Decentralising whole sections of government departments to locations around the country opens the way to turning these sections into agencies, as has happended in the UK, with the ultimate aim of privatisation.

The AHCPS, PSEU and the CPSU should unite around a programme of action, including industrial action to scupper the Government's plans.