Unite, the UK’s leading union, is holding a protest tomorrow [October 11th] at the offices of Jacobs due to the union-busting activities of J Murphy and Sons Ltd.
When: 1pm Wednesday 11th October
Where: Jacobs, 91-97 Victoria Street Belfast BT14PB
J Murphy and Sons Ltd is currently part of a joint venture with French construction company Bouygues which has been shortlisted for the multimillion-pound contract to build the new Lower Thames Crossing.
The decision about who will secure the contract will be taken National Highways. Jacobs has been appointed the commercial and integration partners by National Highways on the Lower Thames Crossing.
The dispute is a result of J Murphy and Sons Ltd’s, Irish subsidiary Murphy International Ltd, wrongfully sacking four Unite members (including a Unite rep) last year, in an act of union busting.
The workers who were undertaking work at a site in the Republic of Ireland were dismissed after organising a meeting of 15 workers to discuss Murphy’s non-payment of travel and subsistence payments.
After a period of two months where the workers were suspended without pay, the four workers were singled out and dismissed for not showing “remorse”. Despite pressure from Unite the company has refused to reinstate the workers.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Murphy’s behaviour is deplorable and it is guilty of flagrant union busting. No reputable company or organisation should have anything to do with Murphy’s considering the manner in which it treats its workers.”
“Unite will never allow such attacks on members to go unchallenged and we will leave no stone unturned until Murphy does the right thing and reinstates these workers.”
Tomorrow’s protest is just one of a large number that Unite is holding across the UK and internationally to apply further pressure on the company to reinstate the workers. If Murphy fails to act, the protests and ensuing disruption to clients and contractors associated with the company will further intensify.
