International Solidarity

As part of the Global Day of Action against Starbucks called by the AIT/IWA and the IWW pickets were placed on Starbucks stores in Belfast, Dublin and many other cities worldwide. These were to demand the reinstatement of Monica, a member of the anarcho-syndicalist CNT working in the Starbucks in central Seville, and Cole Dorsey, an IWW member who was fired by Starbucks for organising in their Grand Rapids, Michican, shop.

Related Links: Starbucks Union (U.S.) Starbucks Union (Spain) Global day of Action Coverage of many of the actions

Solidarity can beat the Bosses!

This Friday, the 4th of July marks the start of a week of actions against Lionbridge, a multinational translation and software development company in support of the right of workers to organise in trade unions.

Groups of workers from Ireland, Poland, Denmark, Spain, America and elsewhere will hold pickets outside the offices of Lionbridge to mark the start of a case taken against the company in Poland by Jakub G.

Jakub has been working for the company for almost 8 years and received several promotions before becoming active as a trade-union organizer. Shortly after a union was formed in Warsaw he was fired by Lionbridge. To get around the Polish law which prohibits the sacking of union representatives without good cause, the bosses said that Jakob had leaked confidential company information to an internet website.

Related Links:Campaign Home Page Picket in Dun Laoghaire

Previous protest at Belfast airport

The three sacked airport shop stewards who called off a week long hunger and thirst strike on 11 April, after they received assurances from their union, Unite, that commitments made to them last September would be met, have resumed protest action at Transport House.

In a repeat of the action that last month led to the union calling the police to remove the protesters, Gordon McNeill this morning occupied the awning at the front of the building. Madan Gupta and Chris Bowyer have said they will take his place if the union has him arrested.

Related Links: Previous Indy coverage | Socialist Party | Unite |

Disconnect Discrimination!

British Telecom is refusing to give collective bargaining rights to a large group of its staff simply because they are Irish. On Tuesday April 22nd a large group of BT Ireland staff, with support from other CWU members, held a public protest at the corporate head office for British Telecom in Dublin.

The company, which runs its business on a 32-county basis, deals with the CWU in Northern Ireland and staff there enjoy the benefits of independent collective representation. In recent years staff in the Republic have sought equal treatment with their colleagues elsewhere in the business and, through the CWU and internal company mechanisms, they have asked to be given the same right to collective bargaining as their colleagues.

To date the company has refused to honour this legitimate request and in doing so is not only denying staff a basic human right but is doing so on the basis that they are Irish.

Related Links: Labourstart Campaign CWU Announcement

Union concedes.

The five day hunger strike by three sacked airport shop stewards, Gordon McNeill, Madan Gupta and Chris Bowyer was suspended at 5.30 this afternoon after the workers received a letter from the union solicitors guaranteeing that their demands would be met.

Related Links: Previous Indy coverage