Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
A DCU LECTURER from St Patrick’s Campus in Drumcondra brought her students to the local Tesco today so that workers could inform them about the nature of the strike action.
This comes as the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) reaffirmed its support for the industrial action after workers at Tesco Drumcondra stated that local students had been crossing the picket line and entering the store.
Susan Pike, lecturer of Geography Education at DCU’s St Pat’s Campus, took her class down to Tesco earlier this morning so that they could speak to the workers involved in the picket.
“We’re always getting the students to try to think big, to think critically about issues,” she said.
So why not come over here where a local issue is meeting a global issue.
Pike said that an email had been sent to staff of the college advising them to encourage students to support the strike, after the issue was raised by Tesco workers of students passing the picket line.
“They might have their own opinions about it but one of the things is to question the power of big companies like Tesco and the impact that can have on people who are out on strike,” she said.
I didn’t tell them what to think before we came down here as that wouldn’t involve them think critically.
She also defended students who did pass the picket, saying that Tesco was the only supermarket in the local vicinity and that students may not have the time to shop elsewhere.
“The trouble is for the over 3,000 students in Pat’s is that there is no other supermarket in the vicinity,” she said.
So students have been passing but some of them have no choice.
Calls for support
Tesco Drumcondra worker Jackie Kearns told TheJournal.ie that students from St Pat’s campus had regularly passed the picket since action began at the store last Friday.
“A lot of these students will be teachers in the years to come and they’d like our support,” she said.
It’s the principle here… you just don’t pass the picket.
Labour senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin was also present outside Tesco today, expressing his support for the industrial action.
“Any of us at any stage of our lives could be in a strike and it’s important to have a level of solidarity with those in the dispute,” he said.
Ó Ríordáin said that the Labour Party supported the strike action and he called on students and the local community to stand behind the workers.
The USI also expressed its solidarity with the Tesco workers.
USI president Annie Hoey told TheJournal.ie that the union was encouraging all students to boycott Tesco for the duration of the industrial action.
“We fully support the strike action,” said Hoey.
“DCU Students’ Union (of which St Pat’s are members) were out on the picket line with the Tesco workers this afternoon,” she said.
We have called on all of our members not to cross the picket line.
In response to reports that students had been crossing the picket, Hoey said that the USI had been sending information about the action out on social media and through the various Students’ Unions across the country.
“They have the full support of the USI,” she said.
Industrial action is currently ongoing in 16 Tesco stores across the county, in a dispute over the proposed changes to contracts of long-term Tesco workers.
About 250 workers in total – who have been working for the company since before 1996 – will be affected by these changes.
A further 10 stores were balloted to join the action last night, with four voting in favour of striking and six voting against. This means that 20 stores will be striking by next Monday.
All stores have remained open despite the industrial action. Tesco claimed yesterday that 45,000 people shopped in stores picketed by strikers over the weekend.
Tesco has repeatedly labelled the work stoppage unjustified and irresponsible, calling on the Mandate trade union to accept Labour Court recommendations on the proposed contract changes.
Mandate, for its part, has criticised Tesco for not properly engaging with the union, claiming that the contact changes will negatively impact workers’ pay and conditions. Tesco has disputed this.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
It’s looking more likely that Brexit negotiations will outlive a global pandemic.
@LangerDan: at this stage will outlive us.
@LangerDan: New deadline 31 Dec 2031
Haven’t they figured it out yet that Boris and his mates don’t want a deal, they want the wild west of financial banking so they can make billions, while the normal brits suffers
@Jim Buckley Barrett: Think this is a face saving exercise on behalf of the UK. It will be done quietly when everyone is occupied with the Christmas and not on high alert.
@Jim Buckley Barrett: ya but surely you know that the financial sector in UK will take a massive hit with a no deal if they don’t have access to European markets and money
@Joe Johnson: Surely you should know that Jim Buckley Barrett is a complete air __ head and you should not engage with people like that
@Jim Buckley Barrett: of course they have and have wasted so much time pandering to the brexiteers. But I’m sure the EU do not want to give the tories and their media any ammunition when the tories pull the plug. Well played the EU….as much as it annoys most of us.
@Jim Buckley Barrett: This is what the Tories and their hedge fund friends want. Singapore on Thames is the ideo of deep deregulation and dumping of services and products on European market. Now Brits are surprised that EU will protect its internal market. This is the same breed of economic right wing populism as in US. The one difference UK is not US. Let them be. There will be pain as hell but now everybody in EU agrees not on fact that austerity dose not work in time of crisis. We should get better soon after the covid issue is contained. In few years time we will se who was right looking at France and UK. They are similar in population and GDP. If France will grow faster and will have larger GDP the Brexit will be a certified failure.
@Merlin Lancelot: He’s right though
@Adam Hernes: Accurate assessment, our main worry will be energy costs in the short term until the Celtic Interconnector is completed in 2026 between here and France, as we import a lot of our electricity. Of course there is a high possibility Scotland independence vote will pass next time round, and they will probably rejoin the EU, meaning the impact might not be as severe.
It’s Britains way or the high way, Ursula wasting her time, Johnson was all over the UK media yesterday explaining why a No deal will be great for them. And don’t forget the threat of armed malitia on boats
@David Lee: One one hardly describe the British navy as malitia or (militia)
@David Lee: Boris being Boris….his tune flips depending on who he’s talking to. He trots out the ‘we’ll prosper mightily, regardless’ line knowing that it’s almost so vague that it can’t be challenged.
@David Lee: if no deal is suh a good deal for them, what are they negotiating for?
Ursula should read up on some Irish history to fully know what she is dealing with.
@Pádraic Ó Braonáin: She’s German, she’s knows exactly what the British are like.
Never ending circus.
Ah Jesus
Brinkmanship.
It will go to the wire, but they’ll find a way.
@John Mulligan: well this week the uk supermarkets were warned to stockpile…and there were queues in France…that shows where the real power lies. we will see how long they stay on the brink if they cant feed themselves…
The only thing they ever seem to achieve is missing deadlines.
(And I know if should be the case if they make a deal).
A deal would obviously be worth it but it shows a certain bluffer that real world politics trumps the bluster and guff he gets away with in London.
Johnson has been ringing individual leaders of European countries in an age old attempt at divide and conquer. It used to work back in the days of empire (as did gun boat diplomacy!) His efforts to turn EU states against each other is so obvious its pathetic. He seems to represent those who want to destabilise western democracy and not the wishes of the majority of British people.
Boris was always going to cave. He doesnt have the ba11s for a no deal.
It’ll be extended for a few more weeks or months.
@Canyon: hopefully the EU will just tell them to deploy their silly little gunboats.
@Canyon: Most likely will be extended to March/April
@Canyon: can they still do that after Jan 1st
@SaveTheTrees: can they still do that after Jan 1st
Just let them off, sick of it all. And let it be a lesson to all remaining EU countries to not be so dependent on trade with one single country. The UK are is the weaker position, and all of this is only postering to panic the EU into giving them what they want
@Tony Corbàn: it’s a pity that we depend on Britain so much for everyday stuff. We should import more direct from the continent in terms of grocery and hardware. We have to improve our independence from Britain.
Tis definitely a day for pucking ball down the field. Death by a thousand cuts.
Its becoming clear at last, both sides negotiate in perpetuity, keeping the current T&C’s and when the Brits decide to return to the EU the negotiations will stop…Simple
@Ivor O’Sullivan: can that actually happen.
Irl should learn from Brits…you have to play hardball of you get rolled over.
@Aire Dezamba: Boris has been scuttling to Brussels and had the cold water of reality thrown over him since he has been PM despite promising that GB would be ‘leaving come what may’. The only people being rolled are the UK public.
@Aire Dezamba: is this what you call playing hard ball? Really? Lol.
Bertie deserves his 17 grand top up.He’s a rock of sense.
@Leonard O’mahony: He’s a crock of nonsense.
Bertie was correct. Looks like people are coming to their sences.
Can a non-Eu country have free trade with the Eu without complying to Eu rules imposed on Eu companies? And if so under wto rules such a deal would have to be offered to other non-Eu countries eg. china, india etc.
@Damian Moylan: no and no, to answer the questions
Boris himself is a ‘feàr’ apart himself – he’s really living up to his name…haunted! – sure he even looks like a ghost – England is a lovely country – geographically – but politically- its a disaster zone!
The Brexit negotiations keep continuing due to the Irish Taoiseach insistence to the EU commission to keep trying. Irish farmers will get EU subsidies in event of a no-deal Brexit from when I last checked. Business is leaving London for Dublin, not all, but a lot. I suppose the nation that really wants its cake and to eat is Republic of Ireland.
have your say