Sir, – The Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013 is a serious threat to trade union and democratic rights in this country. The Bill, if passed, will cut wages and pensions.
It also contains a coercive clause which threatens to freeze the increments due to workers in the public sector unless, as outlined in the explanation to the Bill, “they are covered by a collective agreement that modifies the terms of the incremental suspension and which has been registered with the Labour Relations Commission”.
The fundamental right of workers to vote on any proposal on the basis of its merit is being undermined completely. The right of trade unions to defend their members is being obliterated. At present the Government is attempting to intimidate workers into accepting the Haddington Road proposal. This legislation changes the landscape in Ireland. It is anti-worker, anti-trade union legislation.
We believe it must be opposed by all trade unions and by everyone that cares for democratic principles. We are, therefore, calling on all trade union leaders and TDs to immediately condemn the proposed legislation. To not do so is to stand against democracy and workers. – Yours, etc,
VINCENT ASTIER, SIPTU, UCD; JOHN BISSETT,Community Activist; GERARD CASEY, IFUT, UCD; THERESE CAHERTY; STEPHEN CARRINGTON, IFUT, UCD; MICHAEL CARR, Branch Chair Dublin Colleges, TUI;
EDDIE CONLON, TUI, DIT; ALAN COSTELLO, TUI, BCFE; KELLY DAVIDSON, TUI, IADT; CORMAC DEANE, TUI, IADT; Tom Dooley, Vice Chair TUI, DkIT; CLAUS DERENDA, TUI Branch Chair, IT Carlow; DES DERWIN, SIPTU, Executive Dublin Council of Trade Unions; PAT DONNELLY, TUI,ITT; KATIE DONOVAN, TUI, IADT; GRAINNE ELMORE, IADT; PAUL FARRELL, TUI, ITT; KEVIN FARRELL, TUI, ITB; FINBAR GEANEY, TUI, Dublin Trades Council; MARNIE HOLBOROW, SIPTU, DCU; FLO GAFFNEY; ANTHONY HACKETT, TUI, BCFE; FERGAL HARDIMAN, TUI, BCFE; PETER HOMAN, Impact, HSE; JOE KELLY; SEANIE LAMBE, Community Activist; HELEN MAHONY, TUI, BCFE; MARTIN MARJORAM, Branch Chair TUI, ITT; JOHN MEEHAN; GERALD MILLS, IFUT, UCD; DES McGUINNESS, DCU; FEARGHA Ni BHROIN, TUI, BCFE; DIARMUID O'BRIEN,TUI, BCFE; LENNON Ó NÁRAIGH, IFUT, UCD; CATHLEEN O NEILL, Community Activist; MARIA PARSONS, Chair TUI branch IADT; ANDREW PHELAN, ASTI; BETTY PURCELL; GERRY QUINN, Vice President TUI; Dr SIVAKUMAR RAMACHANDRAN, IADT; TOM RYAN, President, Irish Print Group, SIPTU; NIALL SMYTH, INTO; KENNETH SLOANE, TUI, Secretray DkIT; EMMA SOKELL, IFUT, UCD; THOMAS UNGER, IFUT, UCD; LAURA VENABLES, IADT; MARK WALSHE, ASTI & GERALD MILLS, IFUT, UCD,
C/o Sutton Park,
Dublin 13.