Madam, - An "analysis" article by the Economics Editor in your edition of February 17th contained the following facts:
19,900 Irish workers lost their jobs in manufacturing while in the same period the numbers of migrant workers employed in the same sector rose by 7,200.
In the hotels and catering sector, 3,600 more "foreigners" were employed, while the number of Irish workers fell by 800.
Although the rate of unemployment has fallen, the actual numbers of unemployed has risen by 5,700.
Yet despite these facts the opening words of the article, incredibly, were "Job displacement? What job displacement?"
The writer went on to assert there is "little overall evidence of the phenomenon". He gives his opinion that "the preference of manufacturers for foreign workers that the figures reveal reflects competitive pressures originating from low-wage exporters [ on] the other side of the globe, well beyond the reach of social partnership talks".
This is a revealing sentence. It confirms that the "preference" of some employers for "foreign workers" is based on their perception that these workers represent a "low-wage" option as a response to "competitive pressures".
What the article does not explain is why trends from "the other side of the globe" justify lower pay and displacement in Irish hotels and restaurants. The answer surely, in this sector at least, has nothing to do with "competitive pressures" and everything to do with greed born out of the availability of cheap and vulnerable labour.
On page 1 of the same Business Section the banner headline at the top of the page declares baldly "No job displacement in economy - data." Yet the very opening lines of the report below state that "Irish workers are being displaced by foreign nationals in the manufacturing and catering sectors. But they are finding alternative work elsewhere in the economy."
These pieces prompt the following questions:
Does the Economics Editor of The Irish Times believe it is legitimate that once employers cite "competitive pressures" they should turn to migrant workers as a source of low pay?
Presuming that he does not believe that migrant workers should be treated less favourably than Irish workers, then should the Irish accept the same low pay? Or is low pay acceptable just because the Irish "find work elsewhere"?
Even if it is so acceptable, given that unemployment has gone up by 5,700 will there be enough alternative jobs for those who are given the choice to "go elsewhere or accept lower pay."
I detect a clear editorial line in The Irish Times to play down the issue of displacement in the debate regarding migrant workers. I believe your line is probably taken for the highest of motives. I fully and unreservedly accept that The Irish Times (and its Economics Editor) abhor just as much as I and my union do the prospect of a rise in xenophobia and racism.
We in Siptu have campaigned for years to highlight the exploitation of vulnerable migrant workers. We have sought (with success I might add) to organise them and integrate them into our union (15,000 at latest count) and we have taken a very firm line against all those (even in our own ranks) who have sought to spread divisiveness and unfounded fears.
But the way to combat distrust and anti-migrant sentiment is not by pointlessly trying to tell workers to disbelieve the evidence of their own eyes and pretend that displacement is not happening.
The better way forward is honestly to recognise the problem - to acknowledge that it is still a malpractice confined to a minority of ultra-greedy employers but that if it continues unchecked it will be impossible for other employers not to follow suit.
The good employers, the trade union movement and all who genuinely care for the future of Ireland as a harmonious, multicultural, diverse society should all come together to demand rigorous enforcement of current employment legislation and the enactment of such new powers as are necessary to maintain fairness in the face of those whose greed puts short-term "competitive advantage" ahead of decency.
The current national talks are hopefully, as we speak, engaged in just such a project. - Yours, etc,
MIKE JENNINGS, Regional Secretary, Siptu, Patrick Street, Kilkenny.