High Court Negates Workers’ Rights in Favour of Fast Food Employers.
The Independent Workers Union is appealing to Workers involved in the Catering area to join the Union without delay. For a long time the so-called “Social Partners” (the Bosses) have been trying to reduce wages for the lowest paid workers.
On Thursday (7/7/11) the High Court rules that the Labour Court rates of Pay and Conditions of Employment were no longer valid. This will see an attack on the wage rate of €9.31 per hour but it will also see the likes of: Kentucky Fried Chicken, Supermac’s, Subway, Burger King, Abrakebabra, eliminating the premium payments for Sunday, Night Work and overtime rates.
While leafleting the workers in the sector (encouraging them to join the IWU which is ongoing) we have also commenced a petition, calling on the Government to introduce new legislation (by means of constitutional referendum if necessary), in order to restore the rights of workers who have their wages and conditions set by Joint Labour Committees.
Noel Murphy National Secretary IWU
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Patricia Campbell considering contesting seat
Patricia Campbell
Patricia Campbell, president of the Independent Workers Union, has confirmed that she is considering an invitation by local trade union activists to contest the local government election in Co Tyrone in May of this year. If she decides ‘to put her name in the ring’, she will do so as an independent candidate standing on trade union and socialist principles.
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Stealing a Euro an hour from the less well off
Noel Murphy, National Secretary of the Independent Workers Union, has repeated the union’s opposition to the government proposal to reduce the minimum wage by €1 per hour. He said in his statement;
Minister Batt O’Keeffe resigned from Government on 20th January 20011. The last exercise of his Ministerial power took place the day before when he signed into law a cut of €1 per hour in the National Minimum Wage.
This wage cut, introduced on to the Statute Books by a Minister being paid €4,000 per week, will do nothing to create employment, it will have no impact on Government revenues but it will definitely make poor people poorer. Although there will be talk of competitiveness, in reality the cut in the Minimum Wage, is a method of giving a pay-rise to the Bosses who pay the lowest wages.
However, this new law does not automatically confer powers on employers to cut wages. Wage cuts can be defeated by organisation and legislation.
If you are a victim of the New Legislation – join the IWU. Join the fight-back.
Noel Muprhy IWU
