Two UNITE members (glaziers by trade) on a site at the Mater Hospital were made redundant on Tuesday by Sisk’s sub-contractor Architectural Aluminium Ltd., claiming there was no work to be done. However, the company continues to use contract workers to do similar work.Yesterday there were negotiation between the Union and the employer to no avail and official pickets were placed this morning Thursday 5th May).
Sisk workers and other sub-contractor workers have refused to pass the picket and the site is closed down. Emmet Lyons, one of the workers made redundant, told Socialist Worker that his union Unite met with Architectural Aluminum Ltd yesterday with the proposal of subletting rather than using sub-contractors which would mean that the workers would still be working directly for the company. The company rejected this proposal. Architectural Aluminum, according to Lyons, moved to make twelve of its workers redundant as a cost-saving measure: “They don’t have to provide insurance cover for sub-contractors or provide them with the tools of the job.” Lyons, who has worked for the company for over five years, added that they have never complied with the Registered Employment Agreements (REAs).
Tom Fitzgerald, a representative with Unite, says that “it is important to show our support and if the union leaders provide a good lead workers are willing to take action in support of colleagues”. Another worker on the picket said “we don’t want anyone to be losing a day’s pay but this is more important, we have to support our co-workers”.
The construction site was quiet yesterday afternoon as none of the 450 workers normally employed on the site passed the picket.
People Before Profit sends a message of support to these workers. Please call to the picket on the North Circular Road & show your support to these workers.