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Updated 18.17
SOLIDARITY/PEOPLE BEFORE PROFIT have taken aim at Transport Minister Shane Ross for remaining aloof from the ongoing Bus Éireann strike talks.
Earlier today, those talks broke down without agreement meaning the strike is set to continue for the foreseeable future.
Speaking to the media this afternoon outside Leinster House, Solidarity TDs Richard Boyd Barrett and Ruth Coppinger suggested that the public should be behind the striking workers as “their fight is your fight”.
Boyd Barrett in particular took aim at a photo Ross had found himself in with socialite Amanda Brunker, in which he is seen sporting a feather boa at a recent fundraising night at Naomh Olaf GAA club in Sandyford, south Dublin.
“I didn’t see photo, but it certainly must stick in the craw of the workers who’ve been out on the picket line for 18 days, whose families are suffering, who don’t want to be on strike, but who have no choice but to protect themselves from savage cuts to their pay, and the likelihood that their jobs themselves can be taken from them,” he said.
It really is pretty insulting, that Shane Ross won’t engage with them but seems to be able to enjoy himself.
The photo was taken on Sunday at a fundraiser for new changing rooms for Naomh Olaf’s female teams, an event that the Minister apparently agreed to attend some months ago, according to Brunker (who DailyEdge.ie reports is on very friendly terms with Ross).
“Shane Ross’ ideology is opposed to the public sector, to unions. He was out getting the thumbs up from Michael O’Leary and I think that says it all about the direction that he’d like to see Bus Éireann and other companies take,” said Coppinger.
The Solidarity TDs presented a cheque for €2,000 to the striking workers “to assist them in their struggle”, money sourced from the party’s own coffers.
“We we opposed the pay rise for TDs, none of us takes more than the average industrial wage, and the excess is used for exactly this kind of thing, to support ordinary people because that benefits change in society,” said Coppinger.
Earlier
In a statement this morning, the company said that the talks at the Workplace Relations Commission had been unsuccessful.
They said that progress had been made on some issues, but an overall deal not reached.
“After 16 days of intensive negotiations at the Workplace Relations Commission, talks have broken down without agreement. The unions have now referred a number of issues to the Labour Court and the company have agreed to attend. The company have sought an early hearing given the urgency of the financial situation.
“While progress was made and agreement was reached to eliminate many work practise inefficiencies, an offer made by the company that would help to deliver financial viability was rejected by the Trade Unions representing the driver grade.
“We apologise to our customers for any inconvenience caused as a result of the ongoing industrial action.
“Bus Éireann would like to sincerely thank the Workplace Relations Commission for facilitating talks and assisting the company through this process.”
The National Bus and Rail Union said that “other agencies” had influenced the talks.
“The Trade Unions, as part of this process were prepared to contribute upwards of €18m towards the savings required to resolve the financial crisis.
“It would appear to us that other agencies that were not party to the discussions at the WRC have been applying undue influence on the proceedings, restricting the ability of Bus Éireann to actually reach agreement, the issues between the parties will now be referred to the Labour Court for consideration, it would seem that there are forces at play here which would prefer to see the demise of Bus Éireann, rather than concentrate on securing its future, for the benefit of staff and commuters alike.”
The strike is now into its 19th day.
Additional reporting Cianan Brennan and Christina Finn
First published 7am
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A Greek tragedy.
Watch dictatorship win over democracy and weep.
So much for all this “cradle of democracy” and “why don’t we do the same in Ireland” nonsense, reality kicks in hopefully
I for one hope the Greeks get their referendum and the result that will hopefully lead to the collapse of the euro and all the shit that goes with it.
The harsh reality for millions of Greeks is that romantic notions about democracy won’t put food on the table next month. They have a stark choice. Accept the bail out.. Death by a thousand cuts… Or reject the bailout… Instant death. Their pompous politicians ought to be ashamed for bring their Nation to it’s knees.
The € will croak and the quicker and less painful the better,Insane concept from the off.
Why was it insane?
We are witnessing the explicit emergence of authoritarian capitalism. No longer can we have any illusion that democracy has any part to play in the plans of those who wish to continue with unending wealth accumulation.
Meanwhile on the streets of Oakland we see this http://twitpic.com/7aazyi
The game has yet to be played out. If this kinda of authoritarianism is not resisted as China becomes the greatest superpower idea of genuine democracy will be snuffed out for sure. thats the choice now authoritarian capitalism where societys rule are organised from above by and few for a few. Or democracy from below where we govern ourselves as equals. The idea that there is no left and no right is the greatest stunt the right has pulled, but make no doubt of the iron fist that lies at the heart of the “free markets”
Emergence of authoritarian capitalism !!!! it’s been that way since man came out of the caves
We are not an automatic democracy. We elect representatives and they think for us for five years. Vote good quality people in every five years then largely STFU. However if we vote in venal twits like about 50% of our politicians are we’ll have to keep demanding a vote every 6 months no matter what. It is not part of (or even good practice in any circumstances) to give everyone a broad vote on every economics bill.
Now some you can make an argument for but one that writes down vast chunks of their debt is the only way to go.
“Instant death” is bit dramatic don’t you think. Headline should read ‘Greek finance minister’s grab for power’.
Come on Papandreou!
A figure of speech only. I don’t envisage bodies all over Athens streets.. This is getting dangerous now. Financial warfare is being unleashed on Europes citizens. Dramatic enough??:)
And the Greeks (via referendum) are fighting back.
A bit of back peddling finally! About time
Napoleon in high heels and Hitler in drag. Don’t worry. All is not lost. This is the final act in the farce that is “the markets”.
This is the future – Ordinary Greeks are taking matters into their own hands:
“In early October, a peculiar news item barely made its way into the back pages of Greek national press: in the northern city of Veria, a small group of people had started reconnecting the electricity supply of households disconnected from the national grid due to bill non-payment. This kind of solidarity action seemed rather abnormal.
Then again, it is difficult to define what constitutes normality in the country nowadays – the upper echelon of political power is in an unprecedented turmoil, and Tuesday’s referendum announcement by prime minister George Papandreou, followed by him reportedly preparing to step down, has thrown his political allies and foes into a tailspin. Parliamentary opposition parties are calling for a “national unity” government, snap elections, or a succession of the two; the entire mainstream political spectrum in the country seems to have entered a delirious state of panic. In a stunningly surreal scene, eurozone leaders and global markets are nervously waiting for people in Greece to cast a vote.
And yet, at this precise moment, Greek people are realising they are left with what they had at the outset – that is, absolutely nothing to hope for from the mainstream political scene.”
See more here http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/nov/03/greeks-austerity-grassroots?CMP=twt_gu
What’s brendan Gleason doing there
Lol neo.
have your say