Six electricians in James’ Hospital, members of the TEEU, are on strike over subcontracting and dilution of their work. These changes imposed by management have resulted in major health and safety issues for the hospital. Outside contractors have been brought in without prior agreement and in breach of agreed procedures to take over repairing and resetting the fire alarms. The changes have already resulted in a number of “near-misses” in the hospital’s fire alarm system.

Otis Ltd is owned by UTC, an American company with other branches such as Sikorsky ltd, who make and sell BLACK HAWK helicopters, Pratt & Whitney, CHUBB, Air motif and Hamilton Sundstrand to name but a few. UTC has boasted to their shareholders that their profits have jumped by 20% this year while the company let go of 14,000 jobs. With a CEO that made over $20 million in 2008 and $17 million in 2009 and a board of directors which includes Carlos M. Guiterrez (Former US secretary of Congress) and Richard B.

John Recto, the third Green Isle Foods worker to join the hunger strike over the unfair dismissal of trade union  members at the plant last July received a new work visa today from the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service.

Congratulations to the Green Isle strikers, and especially
Jim Wyse, John Guinan and John Recto who undertook hunger strikes.
After six months on strike and an escalating and ongoing
hunger strike the company was finally forced to a settlement under the
mediation of local TDs, writes Kevin Wingfield

Joint statement on behalf of Green Isle Foods Limited and the TEEU

To raise awareness of the management's injustice and to show support to the workers involved, the Kildare Council of Trades Unions is organising a protest march on 31st October 2009