Mary Lou McDonald sends solidarity message to Irish Ferries workers

25 November, 2005

Mary Lou McDonald MEP

Sinn Féin National Chairperson and MEP for Dublin Mary Lou McDonald has this morning supported the stance of workers at the Irish Ferries company who have barricaded themselves into an engine room onboard one of the ships. Ms McDonald said she supported the protest “without reservation”.

Ms McDonald made her comments as management at the company seek to force ahead with plans to replace over five hundred workers with cheap foreign labour.

Speaking today Ms McDonald said:

“I want to offer my complete support to those workers who have taken this direct and peaceful action against their employers at Irish Ferries. This is about workers’ making a stand against injustice and I want to take this opportunity to express my solidarity with the men.

“This dispute is reflective of the wider drive towards a ‘race to the
bottom’ approach to workers’ rights across the EU. It is unacceptable and wholly inappropriate that workforces can be cast aside in favour of cheap and exploited third country workers.

“The ball is firmly in the court of the management at Irish Ferries, particularly in light of the recent Labour Court ruling. I have sought a meeting with the Chief Executive of Irish Ferries, Eamonn Rothwell and I will be telling him this in no uncertain terms when I meet with him”. ENDS