http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/mhqlgbqlqlgb/

There is a group of building workers sitting in at the BATU Union Headquarters, demanding resignation of Paddy O'Shaughnessy the head of the Union.

It seems highly likely that the coming winter of discontent will mean an end to the tranquil lives of Irish Union chiefs.

Does anyone have any more information about this?

Let's not get ahead of ourselves, there's still the strong possibility that the social partners will agree a deal, the budget will be announced soon, we're well into this economic downturn and still industrial peace reigns. With the crash in commodity prices and a generalised easing in prices into next year, there shouldn't be a huge scope for industrial strife to become mainstream.

It's a situation that undoubtedly needs to be resolved at BATU, but I hardly agree that it heralds a "Winter of Discontent".

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

Let's not get ahead of ourselves, there's still the strong possibility that the social partners will agree a deal, the budget will be announced soon, we're well into this economic downturn and still industrial peace reigns. With the crash in commodity prices and a generalised easing in prices into next year, there shouldn't be a huge scope for industrial strife to become mainstream.

It's a situation that undoubtedly needs to be resolved at BATU, but I hardly agree that it heralds a "Winter of Discontent".

When people are sent home from work in large numbers, questions start to be asked about the logic of it. We are paying a lot of people who have valuable skills to do nothing. People generally want to work and be productive, it isn't just a question of getting paid. Sometimes they hold a sit in, and very occasionally they try to take over production and continue it. When they do that, they usually find out very quickly that the business was genuinely not making a bean and maybe not capable of making anything, or perhaps in need of big investment that they can't secure.

What are the answers to it?

cactus flower wrote:

When people are sent home from work in large numbers, questions start to be asked about the logic of it. We are paying a lot of people who have valuable skills to do nothing. People generally want to work and be productive, it isn't just a question of getting paid. Sometimes they hold a sit in, and very occasionally they try to take over production and continue it. When they do that, they usually find out very quickly that the business was genuinely not making a bean and maybe not capable of making anything, or perhaps in need of big investment that they can't secure.

What are the answers to it?

What you say is cogent, cactus, but I fail to see the connection between it and a putative, "Winter of Discontent" which, to my mind, is exceptionally unlikely. I feel that a deal can be done in social partnership, the budget will provide stability and inflation won't rise above where it is now. It's my view that if we were to be blighted by strikes, they'dve happened by now. Ireland is still deep in Pax Industria.

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

cactus flower wrote:

When people are sent home from work in large numbers, questions start to be asked about the logic of it. We are paying a lot of people who have valuable skills to do nothing. People generally want to work and be productive, it isn't just a question of getting paid. Sometimes they hold a sit in, and very occasionally they try to take over production and continue it. When they do that, they usually find out very quickly that the business was genuinely not making a bean and maybe not capable of making anything, or perhaps in need of big investment that they can't secure.

What are the answers to it?

What you say is cogent, cactus, but I fail to see the connection between it and a putative, "Winter of Discontent" which, to my mind, is exceptionally unlikely. I feel that a deal can be done in social partnership, the budget will provide stability and inflation won't rise above where it is now. It's my view that if we were to be blighted by strikes, they'dve happened by now. Ireland is still deep in Pax Industria.

What you say is true, Ard-Taoiseach, but it is only the beginning of Autumn. There are rustlings in the undergrowth. We will have to wait and see.

Another leaf drops...

Quote :

Renault announced 4,000 job cuts today following its prediction of lower sales and global economic downturn.

Unions protested about the announcement and one appealed to President Nicolas Sarkozy to intervene.

Renault submitted a document to union leaders saying it is having difficulty meeting operating margin targets this year.

The document said the cutbacks are necessary to meet productivity targets to keep the company competitive “in a worsening economic environment” and to avoid falling victim to consolidation in the car market.

The French carmaker will freeze hiring. It foresees cutting most of the 4,000 jobs through voluntary departures and natural wastage.

The CGT union appealed to Mr Sarkozy to intervene because the state owns 15.01% of Renault.

In July, Renault reported a 37% increase in six-month net profit but said it was falling behind sales targets.

The carmaker said it now expects to sell more than three million vehicles under its Renault, Dacia and Renault Samsung brands this year compared with the 3.3 million goal first expected as part of its four-year turnaround plan launched in 2006.

The meeting with unions came as Renault announced it is investing n the latest version of its Megane compact hatchback car, and it will unveil the car in November.

Profits up and cut 4,000 jobs. What would they do if they were in trouble ?

Are Batu the brickies? As far as I know they are about the most militant reactionary union out there. I am not surprised by this given none too complimentary stories I have heard about them. I won't give details as it is a while since I heard the stories.

BATU are the Building and Allied Trades Union.

We now have Waterford Glass in occupation and redundant "ready meals" workers in Cork demonstrating outside their factory at Little Island.

There was furious reaction and tussles with security in the Cowley Mini plant yesterday - bananas were thrown at management. But the real anger was with the Trade Union leaders who it was clearly felt had done absolutely nothing for agency workers who had worked for up to five years, paying union dues, sacked with no redundancy at an hours notice. 800 jobs gone and perhaps another 500 next week. What kind of Unions allow jobs to be switched to agency work and do nothing about it?

The arrogance of the Union officials in their responses is simply incredible. The sacked workers are looking to make the Union pay back their dues.