Tara Mines: Time to talk about public ownership

Posted on June 29, 2023 by unitetheunion

Government must act now to secure future of Europe’s largest zinc mine

June 29th: Unite, which represents craft and staff grades at Tara Mines, today (Thursday) called on the Government to take the mine into public ownership in the absence of a firm commitment from the highly profitable parent company Boliden to an early resumption of operations at the mine and continued payment of workers’ wages in the interim.

Pointing out that decisive Government action is needed not only to secure jobs and skills, but to safeguard a vital national asset which can play a role in a low-carbon economy going forward, Unite Regional Secretary Susan Fitzgerald said:

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Langford Lodge workers in Crumlin to commence weeklong strike action tomorrow morning

Posted on June 25, 2023 by Unite the union NI

Strike follows decisive rejection of inadequate last minute pay offer with 70% majority

Solidarity with workforce has already led to cancellation of visit by client Martin Baker

Members of Unite the union working at RLC Langford Lodge Ltd, a leading manufacturer of parts for the defence and civil aerospace sector, are to commence a first week of strike action tomorrow [Monday 26th June]. Pickets will be established at factory gates at the Crumlin site from dawn and will be maintained until midnight on July 2nd.

The strike is an escalation of a pre-existing overtime ban in which workers are refusing to work outside their contracted hours or answer electronic devices. The strike will shutdown production at the factory at which 200 are employed.

Langford Lodge bosses are claiming an inability to meet the workforce pay claim of a 10% increase. In a last ditch attempt to head off industrial action, the company offered workers just 4.75% with a one-off, non-consolidated payment of £750. This was decisively rejected in a ballot vote with a majority of 70%.

Despite claiming an inability to pay, company bosses have refused to open their books to union representatives and hand over up-to-date management accounts. The latest published accounts are for the year to end June 2021 which show a pre-tax profit of £2.7 million on turnover of £37.5 million. In the same year the company paid dividends worth £3.5 million – more than the company earned.

Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham offered her union’s complete backing to the striking workers.

“Langford Lodge has made huge profits through the efforts of its committed workforce and indeed their last accounts show that they were happy to pay out more to shareholders than they earned.

“It is hard to reconcile the willingness of management to bleed this company dry for the benefit of shareholders with their refusal to meet the pay demand of their own employees. In entering this strike, the Langford Lodge workers know that they can count on the full support of Unite in their fight for improved pay and respect.”

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Northwest economy needs investment for well-paid and skilled employment not job losses

Posted on June 22, 2023 by Unite the union NI

Seagate proposes redundancy for up to one-third of production operators the year after a $2.4 billion pay out to shareholders

Susan Fitzgerald, Unite Regional Secretary

In 2022 Seagate’s turnover was $11.66 billion with an operating profit of almost $2 billion. The company paid out $2.4 billion in dividends and buy-backs to the exclusive benefit of shareholders.

Speaking for Unite the union, Regional Secretary Susan Fitzgerald said.

“Last year Seagate paid out a colossal $2.4 billion to enrich shareholders in dividends and share buy-backs – that’s more than the company made in profit the same year. They now want to use a temporary drop in demand to strip-back production at Springtown – there’s no justification for reductions.

“Unite the union is closely reviewing the situation and we will be discussing an industrial response with our members and reps if this involves any attempt to impose compulsory redundancies.”

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Tara Mines: Unite and Connect submit proposals to management

Posted on June 20, 2023 by unitetheunion

Unions still awaiting full financial disclosure from company

June 20th: Trades unions Unite and Connect, along with Siptu representatives, attended a meeting between unions and management in Tara Mines today, in a further bid to avert the suspension of operations announced by Tara Mines’ Swedish parent company, Boliden. 

Unite represents craft and staff grades in the mine, while Connect represents craft grades.  The two unions submitted proposals to the company regarding ways in which cost savings could be made without a suspension of operations and temporary layoff of the workforce.

Following today’s meeting, Unite and Connect issued the following statement:

“Notwithstanding the fact that unions are still awaiting full disclosure of Tara Mines’ current and projected profits, Unite and Connect are determined to engage fully in a process with management, and have therefore put forward realistic cost-saving proposals which our members believe could result in significant savings while protecting our members’ jobs and conditions.

“We would urge management to engage constructively with the proposals put forward by our members – the workers who have made Tara Mines the successful operation it is today. 

“However, both local management and the management of Tara Mines’ Swedish parent company Boliden should be in no doubt that, while we are engaging in this process, Unite and Connect are also continuing to explore all other avenues to keep Tara Mines open and protect our members’ terms and conditions.

“Unite and Connect also reiterate our position that any grants from the Irish government or the EU must be made contingent on Boliden reversing its decision to suspend operations at Tara Mines”, the statement concluded.

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Unite members set for industrial action on Water Services Framework

Posted on June 20, 2023 by unitetheunion

Water delivery workers in local authorities to down tools on Friday 30 June

Unite seeking changes to Water Services Framework including referendum commitment

Unite members involved in water delivery services around the country will take industrial action on Friday 30 June.  The dispute follows members’ decision to reject the ‘Framework for the Future Delivery of Water Services’ document put forward by the Workplace Relations Commission last year.  The dispute centres around the failure of the local authorities and their representative association to engage with Unite concerning what the union believes to be shortcomings in the Framework document. 

Unite members are seeking a commitment that members transferring to Irish Water will retain their public service status, strengthening of existing commitments regarding protection of local authority workers involved in water services delivery, and a removal of service and age barriers for those wishing to avail of the redundancy option. In addition, the union has urged that the Framework be amended to specify a date and wording for a referendum enshrining public ownership and management of Ireland’s water system in the Constitution. 

Commenting, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said:

“Unite members involved in delivering water services around Ireland took a democratic vote and overwhelmingly rejected the Water Services Framework.  Our members are taking action to defend their working terms and conditions going forward, as well as defending the future of Ireland’s water system by ensuring that it stays in public ownership. The local authorities involved and their representative association have to date failed to engage meaningfully with Unite regarding our concerns, which is unacceptable”.

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